The plague of draws continues as FIDE candidates-match finalists Alexander Grischuk of Russia and Boris Gelfand of Israel battle for the right to take on reigning champion Viswanathan Anand of India next year for the world title.
American champion Gata Kamsky is out of the world-title hunt, falling 2-0 to Israeli GM Boris Gelfand in a blitz playoff Monday in their FIDE candidates semifinal match in Kazan, Russia. After the two drew all four games at classical time controls, Kamsky won the first rapid playoff game only to see Gelfand bounce back with the black pieces to square things, forcing the blitz playoff.
Just days after his grueling repeat triumph in the U.S. national championships, Brooklyn GM Gata Kamsky has upset former world champion Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria to advance to the semifinal round at the FIDE candidates' matches under way in Kazan, Russia. The survivor of the eight-grandmaster scramble later this month qualifies for a date with reigning world champion Viswanathan Anand in a 12-game title match in the first half of 2012.
U.S. GM Gata Kamsky has drawn a tough opening assignment in the world championship qualifying matches, which start in May in Kazan, Russia. Organizers at the international chess federation, FIDE, announced last month that Kamsky will play Bulgarian former world champion Veselin Topalov in the quarter-final match for the right to challenge titleholder Viswanathan Anand of India.
The last American in is out now as Brooklyn GM Gata Kamsky lost his candidates' finals match this week to veteran Israeli GM Boris Gelfand in Elista, Germany.
