Kasparov wins World Cup

MONTE CARLO, MARCH 25. World No. 1 Garry Kasparov of Russia, who lost his world title last year, claimed a new title defeating compatriot Evgeny Bareev 1.5-0.5 in the final of the second World Cup of rapid chess which concluded on Sunday evening at Cannes.

In the two-game final, Kasparov drew the first one in 23 moves with the black pieces and won the white game in 44 moves from the French defence.

Kasparov, who will turn 38 on April 13, won the Ze Bank Trophy and $20,000. He will also receive appearance fees and has been contracted to play in this FIDE tournament by the French Chess Federation. It was Kasparov's first appearance in a FIDE tournament since 1996 when he assisted the Russians to an Olympiad Gold Medal triumph in Yerevan, Armenia.

Kasparov said he equalised the first game easily. White's accepting the pawn sacrifice on move 14 was the critical mistake as it let black have an easy game dissolving the tension in the centre.

In the second game, Bareev played the French defence and Kasparov went for the Tarrasch variation as white. With material getting exchanged off, the 400-odd spectators expected a draw but Kasparov won the pawn ending having the luxury of an extra waste move. Bareev resigned and also lost on time. Exchanging the second set of rooks was the vital mistake and Bareev saw the bitter end too late.

Kasparov, who was accompanied by trainer Yuri Dokhoian, won the tournament where he only had difficulty finishing off Alexander Grischuk in a tie-break in the semifinals.

The moves:

GM E. Bareev-GM G. Kasparov, rapid, match game one, English opening, A34: 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e3 Nxc3 6.bxc3 g6 7.Bb5+ Bd7 8.a4 Bg7 9.0-0 0-0 10.Ba3 b6 11.d4 a6 12.Be2 Nc6 13.Qc2 Qc7 14.dxc5 bxc5 15.Bxc5 Qa5 16.Ba3 Qxc3 17.Qxc3 Bxc3 18.Rab1 Rfb8 19.Rxb8+ Rxb8 20.Bxa6 Nb4 21.Bc4 Bxa4 22.Rc1 Bf6 23.Rb1 Nc6 Draw.

GM G. Kasparov-GM E. Bareev, rapid, match game two, French defence, C09: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.Ngf3 Nc6 5.exd5 exd5 6.Bb5 Bd6 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.0-0 Nge7 9.Nb3 Bd6 10.Re1 0-0 11.Bg5 h6 12.Bh4 Bg4 13.Bg3 a6 14.Be2 Re8 15.Nfd4 Bxe2 16.Rxe2 Qd7 17.Bxd6 Qxd6 18.Qe1 Kf8 19.Qc3 Nxd4 20.Nxd4 Nc6 21.Rae1 Qb4 22.Qxb4+ Nxb4 23.Kf1 Rxe2 24.Kxe2 Re8+ 25.Kd2 Rxe1 26.Kxe1 Ke7 27.Kd2 g6 28.a3 Nc6 29.Nxc6+ bxc6 30.c4 Kd6 31.Kd3 a5 32.b3 Kc5 33.cxd5 Kxd5 34.Ke3 h5 35.h4 f6 36.Kd3 g5 37.g3 gxh4 38.gxh4 f5 39.f3 Ke5 40.Ke3 c5 41.f4+ Kd6 42.Kd2 Kc6 43.Kc3 Kb5 44.Kd3 1-0.

- Our Chess Correspondent

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