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Kasparov proves too good

Russia's Garry Kasparov demonstrated he is still by far the world's strongest Grandmaster by winning the first annual Corus Chess Tournament at Wijk aan Zee.

Collecting 9½ points for an unbeaten tournament record of six victories and seven drawn games, Kasparov finished 1½ points ahead of India's Viswanathan Anand, Russia's Vladimir Kramnik and Hungary's Peter Leko, who also remained undefeated but each managed only three wins in the thirteen rounds of the FIDE-Category-XVIII event.

India's Viswanathan Anand beat Smbat Lputian in 61 moves of a Winawer French defence with 5. ...Ba5. Anand made slow progress in an ending where black had a dreadful light squared bishop but Lputian had seen enough after the second time control. The full point gave Anand second spot as he was at the 4th place at the end of round 12.

Garry Kasparov beat Judit Polgar in a thrilling game where he took huge risks to maintain his 100% record against her. Polgar came up with a novelty 10. ...Nf6 in a variation of the Sicilian she has used before. She won a pawn and perhaps could have gone after another, Kasparov appeared to be running short of compensation but found an exchange sacrifice that first of all secured equality and then in mutual time trouble a winning position.

Michael Adams drew with Peter Leko in only 15 moves of a Bb5 Sicilian. Kramnik and Van Wely also drew, in 22 moves of a Queens Indian. Nigel Short won a pawn against Jan Timman in an Open Ruy Lopez but couldn't convert it in a Queen and Pawn ending. Alexander Morozevich completed an exciting tournament for him by beating Predrag Nikolic in a 1. e4 e6 2. d3 d5 3. Qe2 French.

Viktor Korchnoi beat Jeroen Piket in a Queens Indian Classical Variation. Piket got himself into terrible time pressure leaving himself only 11 minutes after move 17 and only a minute for the last ten moves. Korchnoi won the resulting bishops of opposite colour ending.

Final standings after round 13

1. Kasparov - 9.5
2. Anand, Kramnik, Leko - 8
5. Morozevich - 7.5
6. Adams - 7
7. Piket, Timman - 6.5
9. Nikolic - 6
10. Short - 5.5
11. Korchnoi, Polgar - 5
13. Lputian - 4.5
14. Van Wely - 4