19th February, 2003

AS the Aeroflot Open heads for the crucial final rounds in Moscow, the
Belarusian GM Alexander Alexandrov is flying solo in the tournament
after he was the only one of the fourteen overnight leaders to win in
round six.

After a nicely crafted victory over the Russian GM Lugovoi, Alexandrov
now takes the sole lead in the tournament with what could be a decisive
half point lead over a rather ominous chasing pack of 19, all of whom
still in the hunt for the biggest prize of the year for an Open event.
One man who could have joined him in first place was defending champion
Gregory Kaidanov from the USA.

The former Muscovite put a lot of effort into his game with the young
Russian Alexander Galkin. He had a positional advantage in the
middlegame, and just before the first time control, he uncorked a
brilliant attack. His finely calculated combination netted Queen for
Rook and Bishop, plus White had a passed a-pawn. However, the
ever-resourceful Galkin kept cool despite the pressure, and was able to
stop Kaidanov's pawn, while simultaneously creating a fortress on the
Kingside.

The tournament is ultra strong and most western Grandmasters have stayed
away because despite the lucrative prize fund on offer there seems
little chance of holding off the massed ranks of Russian and ex Soviet
GMs.

Nearly five hundred players including around one hundred and fifty
grandmasters have been attracted to the event which is being held for
the second year running at the Hotel Rossija by the Kremlin on Red
Square; which with 2,876 rooms makes it Europe's largest hotel. There
is an additional incentive this year, the winner of the Open 'A' will
not only take home $25,000 he will also gain entry into the elite
Dortmund tournament at the end of July.

Standings: 1 A Alexandrov (Belarus) 5/6; 2-20 V Zvjaginsev (Russia), E
Sutovsky (Israel), L Fressinet (France), A Jussupow (Germany), K Sakaev
(Russia), S Rublevsky (Russia), M Ulibin (Russia), Z Efimenko (Ukraine),
A Lastin (Russia), V Bologan (Moldova), V Milov (Switzerland), E Najer
(Russia), G Kaidanov (USA), M Kazhgaleyev (Kazakhstan), A Fedorov
(Belarus), A Galkin (Russia), A Moiseenko (Ukraine), M Sorokin
(Argentina), S Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan) 4.5.

A Aleksandrov - A Lugovoi
Aeroflot Open 'A', (6)
Nimzo-Indian Defence
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 e3 0-0 5 Bd3 d5 6 cxd5 exd5 7 Nge2 c6 8 0-0
Re8 9 f3 c5 10 a3 Bxc3 11 bxc3 Nc6 12 Ra2 Qc7 13 Ng3 Be6 14 Bb1 Rac8 15
Raf2 Qd7 16 Qd3 h6 17 Rd1 Rc7 18 Bb2 Na5 19 e4 dxe4 20 fxe4 Bc4 21 Qf3
Ng4 22 Rfd2 Bb3 23 Nf5 Bxd1 24 Rxd1 h5 25 h3 Nf6 26 e5 Nh7 27 Nd6 Rf8 28
d5 b5 29 c4 Nxc4 30 Nxc4 bxc4 31 e6 fxe6 32 Bxh7+ Kxh7 33 Qxf8 exd5 34
Be5 Rc8 35 Rxd5 1-0

JOHN B HENDERSON