FIDE World Chess Championship 1999

The FIDE World Chess Championship 1999 was held in Las Vegas, United States, between 31 July and 28 August 1999. The championship was won by Russian Alexander Khalifman, making him the FIDE World Chess Champion.

Format

The format was a knockout tournament of short matches. This was similar in style to that used at the FIDE World Chess Championship 1998, and had the same advantages and disadvantages - see FIDE World Chess Championship 1998#Controversies.

A change from the 1998 championship was that incumbent champion (Anatoly Karpov) had no special privileges, other than that he (like a number of leading players) was seeded into the second round. In protest at this, Karpov refused to play.[1]

Controversy and non-participants

In addition to Karpov, neither Garry Kasparov nor Viswanathan Anand took part. Kasparov, holder of a rival world championship title, refused to play in any of the FIDE knockout championships, and Anand was negotiating to play a match against Kasparov for his title.[2] (This match never took place - see Classical World Chess Championship 2000).

Only three players in the top fifteen reached the quarterfinals and by the semifinals most of the favourites had been eliminated. Kasparov called three of the quarterfinalists "tourists", perhaps intending only to reflect the surprising results of the earlier rounds, but the remark raised some controversy.[3]

Winner Khalifman was rated 44th in the world at the time,[4] which some compared unfavourably to PCA champion Kasparov being ranked No. 1. Khalifman said after the tournament, "Rating system works perfectly for players who play only in round robin closed events. I think most of them are overrated. Organizers invite same people over and over because they have the same rating and their rating stays high."[5] Perhaps in response, Khalifman was invited to the next Linares chess tournament, and performed creditably (though placing below joint winner Kasparov).[6]

Participants

  1.  Vladimir Kramnik (RUS), 2751
  2.  Alexei Shirov (ESP), 2726
  3.  Alexander Morozevich1 (RUS), 2723
  4.  Gata Kamsky (USA), 2720
  5.  Michael Adams (ENG), 2716
  6.  Vassily Ivanchuk (UKR), 2714
  7.  Peter Svidler (RUS), 2713
  8.  Anatoly Karpov1 (RUS), 2710
  9.  Veselin Topalov (BUL), 2700
  10.  Nigel Short (ENG), 2697
  11.  Peter Leko (HUN), 2694
  12.  Boris Gelfand (ISR), 2691
  13.  Sergei Rublevsky (RUS), 2684
  14.  Zurab Azmaiparashvili (GEO), 2681
  15.  Evgeny Bareev (RUS), 2679
  16.  Judit Polgár (HUN), 2677
  17.  Viktor Korchnoi (SUI), 2673
  18.  Valery Salov (RUS), 2670
  19.  Jan Timman (NED), 2670
  20.  Matthew Sadler (ENG), 2667
  21.  Zoltán Almási (HUN), 2665
  22.  Sergei Shipov (RUS), 2662
  23.  Kiril Georgiev (BUL), 2659
  24.  Vadim Zvjaginsev (RUS), 2658
  25.  Ilia Smirin (ISR), 2652
  26.  Alexander Beliavsky (SLO), 2650
  27.  Sergei Movsesian (ARM), 2650
  28.  Konstantin Sakaev (RUS), 2649
  29.  Alexei Fedorov (BLR), 2648
  30.  Michael Krasenkow (POL), 2643
  31.  Vladimir Akopian (ARM), 2640
  32.  Vladislav Tkachiev (FRA), 2634
  33.  Sergei Tiviakov (RUS), 2627
  34.  Ivan Sokolov (BIH), 2624
  35.  Boris Gulko (USA), 2620
  36.  Alexander Khalifman (RUS), 2616
  37.  Nick DeFirmian (USA), 2610
  38.  Matthias Wahls (GER), 2609
  39.  Aleksej Aleksandrov (BLR), 2609
  40.  Tony Miles (ENG), 2609
  41.  Ruslan Ponomariov (UKR), 2609
  42.  Utut Adianto (INA), 2607
  43.  Rustam Kasimdzhanov (UZB), 2606
  44.  Jonathan Speelman (ENG), 2601
  45.  Alex Yermolinsky (USA), 2597
  46.  Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu (ROM), 2594
  47.  Jaan Ehlvest (EST), 2593
  48.  Joel Benjamin (USA), 2593
  49.  Sergey Dolmatov (RUS), 2589
  50.  Gilberto Milos (BRA), 2586

  1.  Eduardas Rozentalis (LTU), 2577
  2.  Karen Asrian (ARM), 2576
  3.  Peng Xiaomin (CHN), 2574
  4.  Hannes Stefansson (ISL), 2569
  5.  Vlastimil Babula (CZE), 2565
  6.  Zsuzsa Polgar1 (HUN), 2565
  7.  Lev Psakhis (ISR), 2564
  8.  Hichem Hamdouchi (MAR), 2564
  9.  Goran Dizdar (CRO), 2563
  10.  Dragoljub Velimirovic1 (YUG), 2563
  11.  Vasilios Kotronias (CYP), 2561
  12.  Rafael Leitao (BRA), 2559
  13.  Rogelio Antonio Jr. (PHI), 2558
  14.  Jordi Magem Badals (ESP), 2557
  15.  Robert Zelcic (CRO), 2554
  16.  Bartłomiej Macieja (POL), 2553
  17.  Maia Chiburdanidze (GEO), 2551
  18.  Alejandro Sergio Hoffman (ARG), 2547
  19.  Dmitry Gurevich (USA), 2545
  20.  Sergey Kudrin (USA), 2543
  21.  Dimitri Reinderman (NED), 2541
  22.  Dibyendu Barua (IND), 2538
  23.  Mikhail Kobalia (RUS), 2537
  24.  Altin Cela (ALB), 2536
  25.  Julio Becerra Rivero (CUB), 2535
  26.  Ralf Åkesson (SWE), 2530
  27.  Mohamad Al-Modiahki (QAT), 2530
  28.  Daniel Fridman (LAT), 2529
  29.  Christian Bauer (FRA), 2528
  30.  Pablo Ricardi (ARG), 2527
  31.  Kevin Spraggett (CAN), 2523
  32.  Stefan Djuric (YUG), 2517
  33.  Friso Nijboer (NED), 2515
  34.  Peter Heine Nielsen (DEN), 2515
  35.  Pavel Kotsur (KAZ), 2511
  36.  Alexander Ivanov (USA), 2505
  37.  Levon Aronian (ARM), 2502
  38.  Andrés Rodríguez (URU), 2500
  39.  Darmen Sadvakasov (KAZ), 2487
  40.  Alexander Zubarev (UKR), 2478
  41.  Tal Shaked (USA), 2477
  42.  Esam Mohamed Ahmed Nagib (EGY), 2458
  43.  Alonso Zapata (COL), 2454
  44.  Imad Hakki2 (SYR), 2423
  45.  Liang Chong (CHN), 2400
  46.  Watu Kobese (RSA), 2389
  47.  Slim Bouaziz (TUN), 2387
  48.  Amir Bagheri2 (IRI), 2368
  49.  Alexander Kozak (RUS), 2330
  50.  Vladimir Feldman (AUS), 2330

1 Morozevich, Karpov, Z. Polgar, and Velimirovic had to be replaced with the following players:

2 Hakki and Bagheri did not appear due to the visa problems.

Results, rounds 1–4

Section 1

  First round Second round Third round Fourth round
                                     
        
  1  Vladimir Kramnik  
    33  Sergei Tiviakov ½  
33  Sergei Tiviakov
69  Dmitry Gurevich  
  1  Vladimir Kramnik  
  17  Viktor Korchnoi ½  
        
        
  17  Viktor Korchnoi 4
    49  Sergey Dolmatov 2  
49  Sergey Dolmatov
85  Pavel Kotsur  
  1  Vladimir Kramnik 3
  9  Veselin Topalov 1
        
        
  9  Veselin Topalov 4
    41  Ruslan Ponomariov 2  
41  Ruslan Ponomariov
77  Mohamad Al-Modiahki ½  
  9  Veselin Topalov
  57  Lev Psakhis ½  
        
        
  25  Ilia Smirin
    57  Lev Psakhis  
57  Lev Psakhis
93  Alonso Zapata  

Section 2

  First round Second round Third round Fourth round
                                     
        
  5  Michael Adams 2  
    73  Mikhail Kobalia 0  
37  Nick DeFirmian ½
73  Mikhail Kobalia  
  5  Michael Adams  
  21  Zoltán Almási ½  
        
        
  21  Zoltán Almási 3
    53  Peng Xiaomin 1  
53  Peng Xiaomin
89  Darmen Sadvakasov ½  
  5  Michael Adams 4
   Alexey Dreev 2
        
        
  13  Sergei Rublevsky 3
    45  Alex Yermolinsky 1  
45  Alex Yermolinsky
81  Kevin Spraggett  
  13  Sergei Rublevsky ½
   Alexey Dreev  
65  Robert Zelcic  
 Alexey Dreev  
   Alexey Dreev
    61  Vasilios Kotronias ½  
61  Vasilios Kotronias
97  Slim Bouaziz ½  

Section 3

  First round Second round Third round Fourth round
                                     
        
  29  Alexei Fedorov  
    35  Boris Gulko ½  
35  Boris Gulko
71  Dimitri Reinderman ½  
  29  Alexei Fedorov  
  19  Jan Timman ½  
        
        
  19  Jan Timman
    87  Levon Aronian ½  
51  Eduardas Rozentalis 0
87  Levon Aronian 2  
  29  Alexei Fedorov
  27  Sergei Movsesian
        
        
  11  Peter Leko
    79  Christian Bauer ½  
43  Rustam Kasimdzhanov ½
79  Christian Bauer  
  11  Peter Leko
  27  Sergei Movsesian  
        
        
  27  Sergei Movsesian 2
    59  Goran Dizdar 0  
59  Goran Dizdar
95  Liang Chong ½  

Section 4

  First round Second round Third round Fourth round
                                     
        
  7  Peter Svidler  
    39  Aleksej Aleksandrov ½  
39  Aleksej Aleksandrov 2
75  Julio Becerra Rivero 0  
  7  Peter Svidler ½  
  23  Kiril Georgiev  
        
        
  23  Kiril Georgiev 2
    91  Tal Shaked 0  
55  Vlastimil Babula
91  Tal Shaked  
  23  Kiril Georgiev ½
  31  Vladimir Akopian
        
        
  15  Evgeny Bareev
    47  Jaan Ehlvest ½  
47  Jaan Ehlvest
83  Friso Nijboer ½  
  15  Evgeny Bareev
  31  Vladimir Akopian  
31  Vladimir Akopian  
67  Maia Chiburdanidze ½  
  31  Vladimir Akopian
    63  Rogelio Antonio Jr.  
63  Rogelio Antonio Jr. 2
99  Alexander Kozak 0  

Section 5

  First round Second round Third round Fourth round
                                     
        
  2  Alexei Shirov  
    34  Ivan Sokolov  
34  Ivan Sokolov
70  Sergey Kudrin ½  
  2  Alexei Shirov 3  
  50  Gilberto Milos 1  
        
        
  18  Valery Salov 0
    50  Gilberto Milos 2  
50  Gilberto Milos
86  Alexander Ivanov ½  
  2  Alexei Shirov
  10  Nigel Short ½
        
        
  10  Nigel Short
    78  Daniel Fridman ½  
42  Utut Adianto 0
78  Daniel Fridman 2  
  10  Nigel Short
  26  Alexander Beliavsky ½  
        
        
  26  Alexander Beliavsky
    58  Hichem Hamdouchi ½  
58  Hichem Hamdouchi w/o
94  Imad Hakki  

Section 6

  First round Second round Third round Fourth round
                                     
        
  6  Vassily Ivanchuk 2  
    38  Matthias Wahls 0  
38  Matthias Wahls
74  Altin Cela ½  
  6  Vassily Ivanchuk 2  
  22  Sergei Shipov 0  
        
        
  22  Sergei Shipov
    54  Hannes Stefansson  
54  Hannes Stefansson
90  Alexander Zubarev  
  6  Vassily Ivanchuk
  46  Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu
        
        
  14  Zurab Azmaiparashvili
    46  Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu  
46  Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu 2
82  Stefan Djuric 0  
  46  Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu
  62  Rafael Leitao  
66  Bartłomiej Macieja  
 Vadim Milov  
  66  Bartłomiej Macieja ½
    62  Rafael Leitao  
62  Rafael Leitao w/o
98  Amir Bagheri  

Section 7

  First round Second round Third round Fourth round
                                     
        
  4  Gata Kamsky  
    36  Alexander Khalifman  
36  Alexander Khalifman
72  Dibyendu Barua  
  36  Alexander Khalifman  
  52  Karen Asrian ½  
        
        
  20  Matthew Sadler ½
    52  Karen Asrian  
52  Karen Asrian
88  Andrés Rodríguez  
  36  Alexander Khalifman
  12  Boris Gelfand
        
        
  12  Boris Gelfand
    44  Jon Speelman ½  
44  Jon Speelman
80  Pablo Ricardi ½  
  12  Boris Gelfand 4
   Joël Lautier 2  
        
        
  28  Konstantin Sakaev
     Joël Lautier  
96  Watu Kobese 0
 Joël Lautier 2  

Section 8

  First round Second round Third round Fourth round
                                     
        
  30  Michael Krasenkow  
    40  Tony Miles  
40  Tony Miles
76  Ralf Åkesson  
  30  Michael Krasenkow ½  
  24  Vadim Zvjaginsev  
        
        
  24  Vadim Zvjaginsev
     Ulf Andersson  
92  Esam Mohamed Ahmed Nagib 0
 Ulf Andersson 2  
  24  Vadim Zvjaginsev 1
  16  Judit Polgár 3
        
        
  16  Judit Polgár
    84  Peter Heine Nielsen ½  
48  Joel Benjamin 3
84  Peter Heine Nielsen 4  
  16  Judit Polgár
  64  Jordi Magem Badals ½  
32  Vladislav Tkachiev 2  
68  Alejandro Sergio Hoffman 0  
  32  Vladislav Tkachiev 1
    64  Jordi Magem Badals 3  
64  Jordi Magem Badals 2
100  Vladimir Feldman 0  

Results, rounds 5–7

Quarterfinals Semifinals (best of 4) Final (best of 6)
         
1 Vladimir Kramnik 2
5 Michael Adams 4
5 Michael Adams ½
31 Vladimir Akopian
27 Sergei Movsesian
31 Vladimir Akopian
31 Vladimir Akopian
36 Alexander Khalifman
2 Alexei Shirov ½
46 Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu
46 Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu
36 Alexander Khalifman
36 Alexander Khalifman
16 Judit Polgár ½

Championship final

FIDE World Chess Championship Final 1999
Rating 1 2 3 4 5 6 Points
 Vladimir Akopian (Armenia) 2640 0 ½ 1 0 ½ ½
 Alexander Khalifman (Russia) 2616 1 ½ 0 1 ½ ½

References

  1. The Week in Chess 247, 2 August 1999
  2. Opening Ceremony for Wijk aan Zee, The Week in Chess, Special Report, 14-Jan-2000
  3. The Week in Chess 249 - 16 August 1999
  4. The Week in Chess 243 - 5 July 1999
  5. Press Conference with FIDE Champion Alexander Khalifman, 28 August 1999, Chess Scotland
  6. The Week in Chess 279 - 13 March 2000

External links

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