Round 2. Tie-Breaks
The invited cohort is somewhat decreased (04.12.2000)

In particular, Ivanchuk’s problems are traditional for these events. In the previous championship the grandmaster incorrectly took a pawn on f2 with his bishop which cost him a piece. This time he suffered from Ehlvest’s positional pressure. The Estonian grandmaster conducted the first game in Nimzowitsch style. The blockade which he organised on the board deprived Ivanchuk of any chance to show any activity. Rublevsky, Akopian, Chernin, Short and Krasenkov had no luck too. Bareev at last returned his debt to Vaganian. Having lost the first rapid game, he gathered himself up and won all the rest three duels. Svidler dealt with Bacrot as if it were child's play. The young hope of France was doomed in both games. In the first game Khalifman arranged so many pawn islets in his opponent’s position that Lutz was just unable to save it. Khalifman took everything and won. Then he demonstrated his knowledge of the Sveshnikov Variation in the second game. Black’s position was no worse for the whole game but he decided not to tempt his fate. This way the number of participants was halved again. In the next round it will become still harder to keep.

By women Galliamova did not allow a sensation to happen. He won the round after defeat in the first game. Most outstanding and unexpected are fine results of the Latvian player Cmilyte. There are only 16 women left now. Soon we shall be able to guess the new champion easily.

Khalifman, Alexander - Lutz, Christopher
Round 2. Tie-Break 1

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6 7. O-O Be7 8. Rb1 g5 9. b4 g4 10. Ne1 Nxb4 11. Nc2 Nc6 12. Bxc6+ bxc6 13. d4 f6 14. dxe5 Qxd1 15. Rxd1 fxe5 16. Ba3 a5 17. Bxe7 Kxe7

Lutz has an extra pawn but also he has numerous weak points and unprotected single pawns.

18. Ne1 Ba6 19. Nd3 Bxd3 20. exd3 Rhd8 21. Ne4 Nd5 22. Rbc1 Ra6 23. a3 h5 24. Re1 Rb6 25. Nd2 Kf6 26. Nc4 Rb3 27. Rxe5 Rxd3 28. Rxh5 Rc3 29. Rxc3 Nxc3

To win this position is just a question of technique.

30. Ne3 Rd4

You see Khalifman retreated with the knight and now will busy himself with annihilation of Lutz’s pawn islets.

31. Rc5 Nb5 32. Rxc6+ Kf7 33. Rc5 c6 34. Nc4 Ke6

Now it’s Khalifman who has an extra pawn, though the achievement will be delayed. Black will be looking for a lucky chance for a long time, but Khalifman will play unhurriedly and confidently.

35. Kg2 a4 36. h3 gxh3+ 37. Kxh3 Nd6 38. Nb6 Nb5 39. Rxc6+ Kf7 40. Rc4 Rd2 41. Rf4+ Kg7 42. Nxa4 Nxa3 43. Nc5 Nc2 44. Ne4 Rd5 45. Rg4+ Kf7 46. Rg5 Rd4 47. Rc5 Ne1 48. Ng5+ Kf6 49. g4 Nd3 50. Rf5+ Kg6 51. f3 Nf4+ 52. Kg3 Nh5+ 53. Kh4 Rd1 54. Nh3 Ng7 55. Nf4+ Kh7 56. Rd5 Rf1 57. Rd3 Ra1 58. Rd7 Kg8 59. Nd5 Ne6 60. Re7 Nd4 61. f4 Kf8 62. Re4 Nf3+ 63. Kg3 Nd2 64. Re2 Ra3+ 65. Ne3 Ne4+ 66. Kf3 Nd6 67. Rc2 Kf7 68. Rc7+ Ke8 69. f5 Nf7 70. Kf4 Nd6 71. Nd5 Ra4+ 72. Kg5 Nf7+ 73. Kf6 Nd6 74. g5 Ra5 75. Ke6 Ra6 76. Nf6+ Kf8 77. Nd7+ Kg8 78. Nb8 Rb6 79. Rc6

The result is quite satisfactory. Even though Khalifman is no admirer of rapid and blitz he managed to make 80 good moves for his time.

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Ivanchuk, Vassily - Ehlvest, Jaan
Round 2. Tie-Break 2

1. c4 c6 2. e4 d5 3. exd5 Nf6 4. Nc3 cxd5 5. d4 e6 6. Nf3 Bb4 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Qc2 Qc7 9. Bd2 Nd7 10. Bd3 Bxc3 11. bxc3 N5f6 12. a4 b6 13. O-O Bb7 14. Nh4

White attempts to create an attack though his own centre is precarious. In two moves his knight will return without any accomplishments.

14... O-O 15. f4 Bd5 16. Nf3 Bc4 17. Ne5 Bxd3 18. Qxd3 Rac8 19. Rf3 Nd5

The blockade begins. Ehlvest play is excellent despite the shortened time.

20. Qb5 Rfd8 21. Raf1 f5 22. Be1 Nxe5 23. fxe5 Qc4 24. Bh4 Qxb5 25. axb5 Rd7

That’s all. The harvest begins, White cannot keep his pawns.

26. Rc1 Rc4 27. Be1 Nc7 28. h3 Rdxd4

White’s position is ruins, so Ivanchuk resigned.

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