5th March, 2003

TEENAGE sensation Teimour Radjabov again proved to be a thorn in the
side of Garry Kasparov at Linares, dealing another setback to the world
number one as he aims for eleven successive supertournament victories by
holding him to a draw in round 9.

Radjabov, 15, ended Kasparov's incredible run of over four years without
losing a game in an elite tournament following his sensational win in
round 3. The loss was also Kasparov's first since 1996 with White.
In their second encounter, Radjabov easily held off Kasparov to win
their personal duel 1.5-0.5. Coupled with Kasparov's draw with back
marker Francisco Vallejo, the indifferent results against weaker
opposition he would normally be expected to defeat could deprive
Kasparov of a remarkable winning record in elite events that stretches
back to Wijk aan Zee 1999.

The player best placed to end Kasparov's run is rival Vladimir Kramnik,
the player who also ended his fifteen year reign as world champion. A
draw with FIDE champion Ruslan Ponomariov keeps Kramnik out in the lead
with Peter Leko (who sat out round 9) at +2, with Kasparov and Vishy
Anand on their tail.

The players now head for the final rest day at Linares. When they
return for round 10, Kramnik has an ideal opportunity to extend his lead
at the top as he plays Vallejo, whilst Kasparov has the more difficult
task of playing an in-form Leko; and Anand having the bye.

Standings: 1 V Kramnik (Russia) 5/8; 2 P Leko (Hungary) 4.5/7; 3-4 G
Kasparov (Russia), V Anand (India) 4.5/8; 5-6 T Radjabov (Azerbaijan), R
Ponomariov (Ukraine) 3/8; 7 F Vallejo Pons (Spain) 2.5/7.

V Kramnik - R Ponomariov
Linares, (9)
Ruy Lopez
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 a6 4 Ba4 Nf6 5 0-0 Be7 6 Re1 b5 7 Bb3 d6 8 c3
0-0 9 h3 Na5 10 Bc2 c5 11 d4 Nd7 12 Kh1 Bb7 13 d5 f5 14 exf5 Nc4 15 Nbd2
Nxd2 16 Qxd2 Nf6 17 Ng5 Bxd5 18 f4 Qc7 19 Ne6 Bxe6 20 fxe6 Nh5 21 Qd5
Rad8 22 f5 Ng3+ 23 Kh2 Nxf5 24 Rf1 Nh4 25 Bg5 Ng6 26 h4 Nf4 27 Bxf4 exf4
28 g3 f3 29 Rxf3 Rxf3 30 Qxf3 Rf8 31 Qd3 g6 32 Rf1 Qc8 33 Rxf8+ draw.

JOHN B HENDERSON