FIDE World Chess Championship 1999

The FIDE World Chess Championship 1999 was held at Caesars Palace on the Las Vegas Strip between 31 July and 28 August 1999.[1] The championship was won by Russian Alexander Khalifman, making him the FIDE World Chess Champion.

Format

The format was a knockout tournament of short matches. This was similar in style to that used at the FIDE World Chess Championship 1998, and had the same advantages and disadvantages - see FIDE World Chess Championship 1998#Controversies.

A change from the 1998 championship was that incumbent champion (Anatoly Karpov) had no special privileges, other than that he (like a number of leading players) was seeded into the second round. In protest at this, Karpov refused to play.[2]

Controversy and non-participants

In addition to Karpov, neither Garry Kasparov nor Viswanathan Anand took part. Kasparov, holder of a rival world championship title, refused to play in any of the FIDE knockout championships, and Anand was negotiating to play a match against Kasparov for his title.[3] (This match never took place - see Classical World Chess Championship 2000).

Only three players in the top fifteen reached the quarterfinals and by the semifinals most of the favourites had been eliminated. Kasparov called three of the quarterfinalists "tourists", perhaps intending only to reflect the surprising results of the earlier rounds, but the remark raised some controversy.[4]

Winner Khalifman was rated 44th in the world at the time,[5] which some compared unfavourably to PCA champion Kasparov being ranked No. 1. Khalifman said after the tournament, "Rating system works perfectly for players who play only in round robin closed events. I think most of them are overrated. Organizers invite same people over and over because they have the same rating and their rating stays high."[6] Perhaps in response, Khalifman was invited to the next Linares chess tournament, and performed creditably (though placing below joint winner Kasparov).[7]

Participants
  1.  Vladimir Kramnik (RUS), 2751
  2.  Alexei Shirov (ESP), 2726
  3.  Alexander Morozevich1 (RUS), 2723
  4.  Gata Kamsky (USA), 2720
  5.  Michael Adams (ENG), 2716
  6.  Vassily Ivanchuk (UKR), 2714
  7.  Peter Svidler (RUS), 2713
  8.  Anatoly Karpov1 (RUS), 2710
  9.  Veselin Topalov (BUL), 2700
  10.  Nigel Short (ENG), 2697
  11.  Peter Leko (HUN), 2694
  12.  Boris Gelfand (ISR), 2691
  13.  Sergei Rublevsky (RUS), 2684
  14.  Zurab Azmaiparashvili (GEO), 2681
  15.  Evgeny Bareev (RUS), 2679
  16.  Judit Polgár (HUN), 2677
  17.  Viktor Korchnoi (SUI), 2673
  18.  Valery Salov (RUS), 2670
  19.  Jan Timman (NED), 2670
  20.  Matthew Sadler (ENG), 2667
  21.  Zoltán Almási (HUN), 2665
  22.  Sergei Shipov (RUS), 2662
  23.  Kiril Georgiev (BUL), 2659
  24.  Vadim Zvjaginsev (RUS), 2658
  25.  Ilia Smirin (ISR), 2652
  26.  Alexander Beliavsky (SLO), 2650
  27.  Sergei Movsesian (CZE), 2650
  28.  Konstantin Sakaev (RUS), 2649
  29.  Alexei Fedorov (BLR), 2648
  30.  Michael Krasenkow (POL), 2643
  31.  Vladimir Akopian (ARM), 2640
  32.  Vladislav Tkachiev (FRA), 2634
  33.  Sergei Tiviakov (RUS), 2627
  34.  Ivan Sokolov (BIH), 2624
  35.  Boris Gulko (USA), 2620
  36.  Alexander Khalifman (RUS), 2616
  37.  Nick DeFirmian (USA), 2610
  38.  Matthias Wahls (GER), 2609
  39.  Aleksej Aleksandrov (BLR), 2609
  40.  Tony Miles (ENG), 2609
  41.  Ruslan Ponomariov (UKR), 2609
  42.  Utut Adianto (INA), 2607
  43.  Rustam Kasimdzhanov (UZB), 2606
  44.  Jonathan Speelman (ENG), 2601
  45.  Alex Yermolinsky (USA), 2597
  46.  Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu (ROM), 2594
  47.  Jaan Ehlvest (EST), 2593
  48.  Joel Benjamin (USA), 2593
  49.  Sergey Dolmatov (RUS), 2589
  50.  Gilberto Milos (BRA), 2586
  51.  Eduardas Rozentalis (LTU), 2577
  52.  Karen Asrian (ARM), 2576
  53.  Peng Xiaomin (CHN), 2574
  54.  Hannes Stefansson (ISL), 2569
  55.  Vlastimil Babula (CZE), 2565
  56.  Zsuzsa Polgar1 (HUN), 2565
  57.  Lev Psakhis (ISR), 2564
  58.  Hichem Hamdouchi (MAR), 2564
  59.  Goran Dizdar (CRO), 2563
  60.  Dragoljub Velimirovic1 (YUG), 2563
  61.  Vasilios Kotronias (CYP), 2561
  62.  Rafael Leitão (BRA), 2559
  63.  Rogelio Antonio Jr. (PHI), 2558
  64.  Jordi Magem Badals (ESP), 2557
  65.  Robert Zelcic (CRO), 2554
  66.  Bartłomiej Macieja (POL), 2553
  67.  Maia Chiburdanidze (GEO), 2551
  68.  Alejandro Sergio Hoffman (ARG), 2547
  69.  Dmitry Gurevich (USA), 2545
  70.  Sergey Kudrin (USA), 2543
  71.  Dimitri Reinderman (NED), 2541
  72.  Dibyendu Barua (IND), 2538
  73.  Mikhail Kobalia (RUS), 2537
  74.  Altin Cela (ALB), 2536
  75.  Julio Becerra Rivero (CUB), 2535
  76.  Ralf Åkesson (SWE), 2530
  77.  Mohamad Al-Modiahki (QAT), 2530
  78.  Daniel Fridman (LAT), 2529
  79.  Christian Bauer (FRA), 2528
  80.  Pablo Ricardi (ARG), 2527
  81.  Kevin Spraggett (CAN), 2523
  82.  Stefan Djuric (YUG), 2517
  83.  Friso Nijboer (NED), 2515
  84.  Peter Heine Nielsen (DEN), 2515
  85.  Pavel Kotsur (KAZ), 2511
  86.  Alexander Ivanov (USA), 2505
  87.  Levon Aronian (ARM), 2502
  88.  Andrés Rodríguez (URU), 2500
  89.  Darmen Sadvakasov (KAZ), 2487
  90.  Alexander Zubarev (UKR), 2478
  91.  Tal Shaked (USA), 2477
  92.  Esam Mohamed Ahmed Nagib (EGY), 2458
  93.  Alonso Zapata (COL), 2454
  94.  Imad Hakki2 (SYR), 2423
  95.  Liang Chong (CHN), 2400
  96.  Watu Kobese (RSA), 2389
  97.  Slim Bouaziz (TUN), 2387
  98.  Amir Bagheri2 (IRI), 2368
  99.  Alexander Kozak (RUS), 2330
  100.  Vladimir Feldman (AUS), 2330

1 Morozevich, Karpov, Z. Polgar, and Velimirovic had to be replaced with the following players:

2 Hakki and Bagheri did not appear due to the visa problems.

Results, rounds 1–4

Section 1
  First round Second round Third round Fourth round
                                     
       
  1 Vladimir Kramnik 1½  
    33 Sergei Tiviakov ½  
33 Sergei Tiviakov 4½
69 Dmitry Gurevich 3½  
  1 Vladimir Kramnik 1½  
  17 Viktor Korchnoi ½  
       
       
  17 Viktor Korchnoi 4
    49 Sergey Dolmatov 2  
49 Sergey Dolmatov 2½
85 Pavel Kotsur 1½  
  1 Vladimir Kramnik 3
  9 Veselin Topalov 1
       
       
  9 Veselin Topalov 4
    41 Ruslan Ponomariov 2  
41 Ruslan Ponomariov 1½
77 Mohamad Al-Modiahki ½  
  9 Veselin Topalov 1½
  57 Lev Psakhis ½  
       
       
  25 Ilia Smirin 1½
    57 Lev Psakhis 2½  
57 Lev Psakhis 2½
93 Alonso Zapata 1½  

Section 2
  First round Second round Third round Fourth round
                                     
       
  5 Michael Adams 2  
    73 Mikhail Kobalia 0  
37 Nick DeFirmian ½
73 Mikhail Kobalia 1½  
  5 Michael Adams 1½  
  21 Zoltán Almási ½  
       
       
  21 Zoltán Almási 3
    53 Peng Xiaomin 1  
53 Peng Xiaomin 1½
89 Darmen Sadvakasov ½  
  5 Michael Adams 4
  Alexey Dreev 2
       
       
  13 Sergei Rublevsky 3
    45 Alex Yermolinsky 1  
45 Alex Yermolinsky 2½
81 Kevin Spraggett 1½  
  13 Sergei Rublevsky ½
  Alexey Dreev 1½  
65 Robert Zelcic 2½  
Alexey Dreev 3½  
  Alexey Dreev 1½
    61 Vasilios Kotronias ½  
61 Vasilios Kotronias 1½
97 Slim Bouaziz ½  

Section 3
  First round Second round Third round Fourth round
                                     
       
  29 Alexei Fedorov 1½  
    35 Boris Gulko ½  
35 Boris Gulko 1½
71 Dimitri Reinderman ½  
  29 Alexei Fedorov 1½  
  19 Jan Timman ½  
       
       
  19 Jan Timman 1½
    87 Levon Aronian ½  
51 Eduardas Rozentalis 0
87 Levon Aronian 2  
  29 Alexei Fedorov 2½
  27 Sergei Movsesian 3½
       
       
  11 Peter Leko 1½
    79 Christian Bauer ½  
43 Rustam Kasimdzhanov ½
79 Christian Bauer 1½  
  11 Peter Leko 1½
  27 Sergei Movsesian 2½  
       
       
  27 Sergei Movsesian 2
    59 Goran Dizdar 0  
59 Goran Dizdar 1½
95 Liang Chong ½  

Section 4
  First round Second round Third round Fourth round
                                     
       
  7 Peter Svidler 1½  
    39 Aleksej Aleksandrov ½  
39 Aleksej Aleksandrov 2
75 Julio Becerra Rivero 0  
  7 Peter Svidler ½  
  23 Kiril Georgiev 1½  
       
       
  23 Kiril Georgiev 2
    91 Tal Shaked 0  
55 Vlastimil Babula 1½
91 Tal Shaked 2½  
  23 Kiril Georgiev ½
  31 Vladimir Akopian 1½
       
       
  15 Evgeny Bareev 1½
    47 Jaan Ehlvest ½  
47 Jaan Ehlvest 1½
83 Friso Nijboer ½  
  15 Evgeny Bareev 1½
  31 Vladimir Akopian 2½  
31 Vladimir Akopian 1½  
67 Maia Chiburdanidze ½  
  31 Vladimir Akopian 2½
    63 Rogelio Antonio Jr. 1½  
63 Rogelio Antonio Jr. 2
99 Alexander Kozak 0  

Section 5
  First round Second round Third round Fourth round
                                     
       
  2 Alexei Shirov 2½  
    34 Ivan Sokolov 1½  
34 Ivan Sokolov 1½
70 Sergey Kudrin ½  
  2 Alexei Shirov 3  
  50 Gilberto Milos 1  
       
       
  18 Valery Salov 0
    50 Gilberto Milos 2  
50 Gilberto Milos 1½
86 Alexander Ivanov ½  
  2 Alexei Shirov 1½
  10 Nigel Short ½
       
       
  10 Nigel Short 1½
    78 Daniel Fridman ½  
42 Utut Adianto 0
78 Daniel Fridman 2  
  10 Nigel Short 1½
  26 Alexander Beliavsky ½  
       
       
  26 Alexander Beliavsky 1½
    58 Hichem Hamdouchi ½  
58 Hichem Hamdouchi w/o
94 Imad Hakki  

Section 6
  First round Second round Third round Fourth round
                                     
       
  6 Vassily Ivanchuk 2  
    38 Matthias Wahls 0  
38 Matthias Wahls 1½
74 Altin Cela ½  
  6 Vassily Ivanchuk 2  
  22 Sergei Shipov 0  
       
       
  22 Sergei Shipov 2½
    54 Hannes Stefansson 1½  
54 Hannes Stefansson 3½
90 Alexander Zubarev 2½  
  6 Vassily Ivanchuk 1½
  46 Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu 2½
       
       
  14 Zurab Azmaiparashvili 1½
    46 Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu 2½  
46 Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu 2
82 Stefan Djuric 0  
  46 Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu 2½
  62 Rafael Leitão 1½  
66 Bartłomiej Macieja 2½  
Vadim Milov 1½  
  66 Bartłomiej Macieja ½
    62 Rafael Leitão 1½  
62 Rafael Leitão w/o
98 Amir Bagheri  

Section 7
  First round Second round Third round Fourth round
                                     
       
  4 Gata Kamsky 1½  
    36 Alexander Khalifman 2½  
36 Alexander Khalifman 3½
72 Dibyendu Barua 2½  
  36 Alexander Khalifman 1½  
  52 Karen Asrian ½  
       
       
  20 Matthew Sadler ½
    52 Karen Asrian 1½  
52 Karen Asrian 2½
88 Andrés Rodríguez 1½  
  36 Alexander Khalifman 2½
  12 Boris Gelfand 1½
       
       
  12 Boris Gelfand 1½
    44 Jon Speelman ½  
44 Jon Speelman 1½
80 Pablo Ricardi ½  
  12 Boris Gelfand 4
  Joël Lautier 2  
       
       
  28 Konstantin Sakaev 1½
    Joël Lautier 2½  
96 Watu Kobese 0
Joël Lautier 2  

Section 8
  First round Second round Third round Fourth round
                                     
       
  30 Michael Krasenkow 2½  
    40 Tony Miles 1½  
40 Tony Miles 2½
76 Ralf Åkesson 1½  
  30 Michael Krasenkow ½  
  24 Vadim Zvjaginsev 1½  
       
       
  24 Vadim Zvjaginsev 2½
    Ulf Andersson 1½  
92 Esam Mohamed Ahmed Nagib 0
Ulf Andersson 2  
  24 Vadim Zvjaginsev 1
  16 Judit Polgár 3
       
       
  16 Judit Polgár 1½
    84 Peter Heine Nielsen ½  
48 Joel Benjamin 3
84 Peter Heine Nielsen 4  
  16 Judit Polgár 1½
  64 Jordi Magem Badals ½  
32 Vladislav Tkachiev 2  
68 Alejandro Sergio Hoffman 0  
  32 Vladislav Tkachiev 1
    64 Jordi Magem Badals 3  
64 Jordi Magem Badals 2
100 Vladimir Feldman 0  

Results, rounds 5–7
Quarterfinals Semifinals (best of 4) Final (best of 6)
         
1 Vladimir Kramnik 2
5 Michael Adams 4
5 Michael Adams ½
31 Vladimir Akopian 2½
27 Sergei Movsesian 1½
31 Vladimir Akopian 2½
31 Vladimir Akopian 2½
36 Alexander Khalifman 3½
2 Alexei Shirov ½
46 Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu 1½
46 Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu 2½
36 Alexander Khalifman 3½
36 Alexander Khalifman 1½
16 Judit Polgár ½

Championship final
FIDE World Chess Championship Final 1999
Rating123456Points
 Vladimir Akopian (Armenia)2640 0½10½½2½
 Alexander Khalifman (Russia)2616 1½01½½3½

References
  1. David Clayton (25 August 1999). "Two battle for chess crown at Caesars as the grand game makes a move — toward a new image". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  2. The Week in Chess 247, 2 August 1999
  3. Opening Ceremony for Wijk aan Zee, The Week in Chess, Special Report, 14-Jan-2000
  4. The Week in Chess 249 - 16 August 1999
  5. The Week in Chess 243 - 5 July 1999
  6. Press Conference with FIDE Champion Alexander Khalifman Archived 7 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine, 28 August 1999, Chess Scotland
  7. The Week in Chess 279 - 13 March 2000
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