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Khalifman tightens grip on world title

Russian grandmaster Alexander Khalifman once again forged ahead with a fighting victory over Armenian grandmaster Vladimir \akopian in the fourth game of their six game match for the world chess championship in Las Vegas.

With just two more games to go, the 33-year-old Khalifman is leading with a 2.5-1.5 margin. The winner of the encounter will be crowned the 14th world chess champion, and become richer by US $60,000 dollars.

After Khalifman won the first game with black pieces, Akopian had bounced back with a superb win in the third game with white pieces and tying the match 1.5-1.5. A rest day followed, and play resumed for the fourth encounter with Akopian trying a sharp opening from black.

Alexander Khalifman opened with the classical variation against Akopian's King's Indian Defence. He obtained a dangerous initiative on the queen's wing, leaving his 27-year-old rival searching for desperate measures.

At this point, Akopian gave up one pawn and came up with a dangerous looking passed pawn, but the Russian handled the situation with composure to forge a win in 61 moves.

Play resumes tomorrow, with Akopian playing white in the 5th game of the series.

Khalifman,A - White, Akopian,V - Black

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Nf3 e5 7. Be3 exd4 8. Nxd4 Re8 9. f3 c6 10. Bf2 d5 11. exd5 cxd5 12. O-O Nc6 13. c5 Nh5 14. Qd2 Be5 15. g3 Ng7 16. Rfd1 Be6 17. Nxe6 fxe6 18. f4 Bf6 19. Nb5 Be7 20. Rac1 a6 21. Nd4 Bf6 22. Nf3 Qa5 23. Qxa5 Nxa5 24. b4 Nc6 25. Rb1 h6 26. a4 g5 27. fxg5 hxg5 28. g4 Ne5 29. Nxe5 Bxe5 30. Be3 Rf8 31. Rf1 Bf4 32. Bxf4 gxf4 33. Bf3 Rf7 34. a5 Rd8 35. Rbe1 d4 36. Re4 d3 37. Bd1 d2 38. Rfxf4 Rxf4 39. Rxf4 Ne8 40. Kf2 Nc7 41. h4 e5 42. Rc4 Nd5 43. Kf3 Rf8+ 44. Ke2 Rd8 45. Kf3 Rf8+ 46. Ke2 Rd8 47. Rc2 Nf4+ 48. Ke3 Nd5+ 49. Ke2 Nf4+ 50. Kf3 Kf7 51. c6 bxc6 52. Rxc6 Rd3+ 53. Ke4 Ke7 54. h5 Rd4+ 55. Kxe5 Rxb4 56. Rc7+ Kf8 57. Rd7 Ng2 58. h6 Kg8 59. g5 Ne3 60. g6 Rb5+ 61. Ke4 1-0