Chess: Time for a dispute

A GREAT dispute, a fine last-round win and a second prize were Anatoly Karpov's tally in Seville last week, writes William Hartston. The tournament was won by Boris Gelfand, thanks to Karpov's first defeat of the year at the hands of Boris Gulko.

The dispute came in the first round when, according to dispatches from the front, Karpov's game with Manuel Rivas culminated in a massive time-scramble. As both players rushed to reach move 40, Karpov stood clearly better, but needed to avoid a series of checks from his opponent's queen. After a flurry of rapid moves, Karpov's flag fell. The arbiter announced that he had lost on time, and an argument erupted concerning how many moves had been played. According to the arbiter's count, it was 39, which tallied with Rivas's score-sheet once the hurried moves had been reconstructed. Karpov's memory of the missing moves, however, included a different series of queen checks which brought the number of to 41. In the ensuing confusion, Rivas offered Karpov a draw, which was accepted. Meeting Karpov in the second round, Boris Gelfand asked for a video-camera to record the game in case of a similar dispute. There was no argument about Karpov's last- round game, which looked level until Topalov allowed a delightful combination with 30 . . . Nf6]] and 31. Be5+] Black's king is lured to e4, when 33. Re1+ wins two pieces. At the end, White will pick up another pawn with Rc7, when Black's game game is hopeless.

Final scores at Seville: Gelfand 6 1/2 , Karpov 6, Epishin 5 1/2 , Topalov 4 1/2, J Polgar, Illescas, Lautier and Gulko 4, Morovic 3 1/2 , Rivas 3.

----------------------------------------------------------------- White: Karpov ----------------------------------------------------------------- Black: Topalov ----------------------------------------------------------------- 1 d4 Nf6 19 Nb3 Rad8 2 Nf3 c5 20 Rd2 Be6 3 d5 e6 21 Bc7 Rxd2 4 Nc3 exd5 22 Nxd2 Bf5 5 Nxd5 Nxd5 23 Nc4 Re4 6 Qxd5 Be7 24 Ne3 Bc8 7 e4 0-0 25 Rd1 Re8 8 Be2 d6 26 h3 Qg5 9 0-0 Nc6 27 Qf3 Kg7 10 c3 Be6 28 Bf4 Qe7 11 Qh5 h6 29 Nd5 Qe4 12 Rd1 Re8 30 Nf6 Kxf6 13 Bf4 Bf8 31 Be5+ Kxe5 14 Nd2 g6 32 Qxe4+ Kxe4 15 Qf3 d5 33 Re1+ Kf5 16 Qg3 Qe7 34 Rxe8 Be6 17 exd5 Bxd5 35 Rxf8 Bxa2 18 Bf1 Qf6 36 Rc8 1-0 -----------------------------------------------------------------