Adams and Kasimdzhanov duel for the FIDE title in Tripoli

The format for FIDE's 2004 World Championship was a a tournament wherein 128 players would reduce to a single world champion after a series of knockout mini-matches. It took place in Tripoli, Libya from June 19 to July 13, 2004. The first 5 rounds consisted of 2 game matches, the semifinals consisted of 4 game matches, while the the final round was a 6 game match. If any of the matches were tied, the tie was broken with speed-chess (25 minutes + 10 second "increment" per move). Failing that, two blitz games (5 minutes + 10 second increment) were played. Finally, if a result was still not achieved, the entire match was settled with a single decisive sudden death blitz game, sometimes called an "Armageddon" game, wherein White receives 6 minutes, and Black receives 5 minutes and draw-odds.

FIDE's knockout format, which relied so heavily on speed chess and blitz chess, was certain to be the source of much criticism. Also under attack was FIDE's position to allow Garry Kasparov to play the winner of this event in a reunification match, even though Kasparov did not participate in the qualifying rounds. However, even these important complaints had to take a backseat to the highly controversial choice of venue. Libya, under the leadership of Muammar Gaddafi, enforced policies which were denounced by many as shamelessly anti-semitic; for example, their refusal to recognise Israeli passports, and their barring of Israeli chess coaches from entering the country. Gaddafi was quoted by several Hewbrew news outlets as saying "We didn't invite nor will we invite the Zionist enemy to the competition." Gaddafi's son added fuel to the fire, adding: "We know the Zionists will seize such occasions to enter the Arab society ... but we will not give up our principles."^[1]

FIDE president Kirsan Ilymzhinov was unapologetic, responding: "I am somewhat surprised that you don't see the importance of having the World Chess Championship in Libya, during the time when the country is opening up to the international community."^[2] The damage to the championship's integrity was irreparable, and in the end, only two of top-10 players (Adams and Topalov) agreed to participate.

The unexpected winner of the tournament was the Uzbekistani 24 year old grandmaster, Rustam Kasimdzhanov, who defeated Ramirez, Ghaem-Maghami, Ivanchuk, Almasi, Grischuk, Topalov, and in the final round, Michael Adams. In the final match against Adams, both players won two games, thereby necessitating the use of the speed-chess tiebreaks. Kasimdzhanov, whose previous accomplishments included winning the Asian championship in 1998 and finishing second in the World Junior Championship in 1999, won the first speed tiebreak in spite of being in danger for most of the game. During the second tiebreak game he needed only to secure a draw with the white pieces, which he did easily, thereby winning the tournament and becoming the new FIDE World Chess Champion.

click on a game number to replay game 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Kasimdzhanov ½ 1 0 1 0 ½ 1 ½ Adams ½ 0 1 0 1 ½ 0 ½

FINAL SCORE:  Kasimdzhanov 4½;  Adams 3½
Reference: game collection Kasimdzhanov - Adams, WCC 2004

NOTABLE GAMES   [what is this?]

	· Game #5		Adams vs Kasimdzhanov, 2004		1-0
	· Game #7		Adams vs Kasimdzhanov, 2004		0-1
	· Game #3		Adams vs Kasimdzhanov, 2004		1-0

FOOTNOTES

1. Libya will not allow Israelis in for FIDE KO, Chessbase, Jun 6, 2004.
2. Gaddafi's strategic chess move, BBC Jun 22, 2004.