21st January, 2003

FORTUNE favoured the brave in a dramatic finale to the AF4C US
Championships in Seattle, as chess street fighter Alexander Shabalov
took the title and $25,000 first prize after defeating Varuzhan Akobian
in an epic encounter.

Going into the final round, eight players, including five former
champions, were tied for the lead on 5.5/8; and with the destiny of the
crown in their own hands, as all eight were matched up against each
other. Surprisingly for so much at stake, and in the glare of the media
spotlight, six of the top boards (Ivanov-Kaidanov, Stripunsky-Gulko and
Fedorowicz-Benjamin) balked out of a fight and instead opted for the
safety of quick draws in the expectations of a multi-player playoff for
the title and the record prize money on offer.

Not surprisingly their strategy backfired spectacularly - and in more
ways than one! Rather than the disappointment of yet another quick draw
with the title on the line, Shabalov and Akobian opted instead for a
gladiatorial fight to the finish, which in the process delighted and
entertained the packed house that followed every nerve-wracking move.
In a tense struggle that ebbed and flowed and was fittingly the last
game to finish on the final day, it looked at one stage as if tournament
wild card Akobian, 19, had the better of Shabalov.

However, the intriguing match up between the two turned on a slip from
Akobian that let Shabalov back in the game - and he didn't look back as
he took control of the game, with the breakthrough being made after
seven hours of play following a stunning queen sacrifice that won the
game and with it the title. "It feels fantastic," said Shabalov, who in
the past had tied for the title in 1993 and 2000. "I was the No. 6
seeded player for the tournament, so I was one of the favorites, but I
wanted to win the championship outright."

And, in a coded message to the 'guilty six' who had opted out with the
early draws that disappointed not only the spectators, the media but
also the sponsors, championship patron and Co-Founder of the Af4C, Erik
Anderson, shocked everyone during the prize giving ceremony by rewarding
both Shabalov and Akobian with a further $5,000 on top of their winnings
for having the courage to fight at the board for the title.

Final standings
1 Alexander Shabalov 6.5/9; 2-8 Gregory Kaidanov, Alexander Goldin,
Boris Gulko, Joel Benjamin, Alexander Ivanov, Alexander Stripunsky, John
Fedorowicz 6/9.

Despite one playoff being avoided in the overall championships, the
three leading women players had to come back one day later to contest a
playoff for the title and the $12,500 first prize.

And, in a fairytale ending to decide the destination of the title,
underdog Anna Hahn caused a major chess upset in the three-way playoff
for the crown by beating former champions Jennifer Shahade and Irina
Krush by beating both to take the top prize for the biggest win of her
career - and a result that shocked many of the commentators and
spectators.

A Shabalov - V Akobian
AF4C US Ch, (9)
French Defence
1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 e5 c5 4 c3 Nc6 5 Nf3 Qb6 6 a3 Nh6 7 b4 cxd4 8 cxd4 Nf5
9 Bb2 Be7 10 h4 h5 11 Bd3 g6 12 Bxf5 gxf5 13 Nc3 Rg8 14 g3 Bd7 15 Bc1
Rc8 16 Ne2 a5 17 b5 Qxb5 18 Bg5 a4 19 Rb1 Qa5+ 20 Kf1 Bxa3 21 Ra1 Qb4 22
Nf4 Rh8 23 Kg2 b5 24 Bf6 Rh6 25 Re1 Qf8 26 Qe2 Be7 27 Bg5 Rh8 28 Rec1
Rb8 29 Rab1 Bxg5 30 hxg5 Qa3 31 g6 fxg6 32 Nxe6 Bxe6 33 Rxc6 Qe7 34 Rxb5
Kf7 35 Ng5+ Qxg5 36 Rc7+ Qe7 37 Rxe7+ Kxe7 38 Rc5 Rhc8 39 Qa6 Rxc5 40
Qa7+ Ke8 41 dxc5 Rc8 42 Qxa4+ Bd7 43 Qd4 Be6 44 f4 Ke7 45 Qb4 Rc6 46 Kh3
Bd7 47 Kh4 Kf7 48 Kg5 Ke7 49 Qb3 Re6 50 Qxd5 Bc6 51 Qa2 Bd7 52 Kh6 Be8
53 Kg7 Bd7 54 Qh2 Rc6 55 Qh4+ Ke8 56 Qf6 Rxf6 57 exf6 Be6 58 c6 g5 59
fxg5 f4 60 g6 fxg3 61 f7+ 1-0

JOHN B HENDERSON, Press Officer