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Round 5 (March 4)
Kasparov-Leko 1/2-1/2
Kramnik-Shirov 1-0
Khalifman-Anand 1/2-1/2
Kasparov vs Leko
It's not often you'll see Kasparov being
outdone in the preparation department, but that's exactly what happened
in this game. Kasparov took his best shot at Leko's favourite Grünfeld
Indian, but Leko, clearly reciting his homework, easily simplified into a drawn
ending.
Kramnik vs Shirov
A fairly easy win for Kramnik, who once
again showed some impressive preparation in one of the most topical lines if the
Slav Defence. Shirov tried to transform a slow, positional variation into a
sharp, attacking one...and failed miserably.
As always, Kramnik's handling of the ending was
impeccable.
View Kramnik-Shirov
Khalifman vs Anand
Anand was able to grab a pawn in the opening,
but Khalifman's two bishops vs two knights gave him obvious positional
compensation. Unfortunately, the underdog from St. Petersburg once again hit the
"chicken switch" and offered a draw just as things were heating
up. Having lost his two previous games, Anand was in no mood for
adventure and accepted the Russian's peace offering.
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