Karpov     Kamsky



  1. Ng1-f3     Ng8-f6



  2.  c2-c4      e7-e6



  3.  g2-g3      a7-a6



  4. Bf1-g2      b7-b5



  5.  b2-b3      c7-c5



  6. O-O        Bc8-b7



  7.  e2-e3     Bf8-e7



  8. Nb1-c3     Qd8-a5



  9. Bc1-b2     O-O



 10. Qd1-e2     Nb8-c6



 11. Rf1-b1      b5xc4



 12.  b3xc4     Ra8-b8



 13.  d2-d3     Bb7-a8



 14.  a2-a3     Rf8-c8



 15. Qe2-c2     Nc6-d8



 16. Bb2-c1      d7-d6



 17. Bc1-d2     Qa5-c7



 18. Rb1xb8     Rc8xb8



 19. Ra1-b1     Ba8-c6



 20. Rb1xb8     Qc7xb8



 21. Nf3-e1     Bc6xg2



 22. Kg1xg2     Qb8-b7



 23.  f2-f3     Nf6-d7



 24. Qc2-b1     Qb7xb1



 25. Nc3xb1     Nd8-c6



 26. Bd2-c3      f7-f5



 27. Nb1-d2     Kg8-f7



 28. Kg2-f2      g7-g5



 29.  h2-h3      h7-h5



 30. Kf2-e2     Kf7-g6



 31. Nd2-b3      d6-d5

     Karpov     Kamsky



 32.  e3-e4     Be7-d6



 33.  c4xd5      e6xd5



 34.  e4xf5+    Kg6xf5



 35.  g3-g4+    Kf5-g6



 36. Ne1-g2      h5xg4



 37.  f3xg4     Bd6-e7



 38. Nb3-a5     Nc6xa5



 39. Bc3xa5     Kg6-f7



 40. Ng2-e3     Kf7-e6



 41. Ne3-f5     Be7-f6



 42. Ba5-d2     Nd7-f8



 43. Bd2-e3      d5-d4



 44. Be3-c1     Bf6-d8



 45. Nf5-g3     Ke6-d5



 46. Ng3-f1     Nf8-e6



 47. Nf1-h2     Bd8-c7



 48. Nh2-f3     Bc7-f4



 49. Bc1-d2      c5-c4



 50.  d3xc4     Kd5xc4



 51.  h3-h4      g5xh4



 52. Nf3xh4      d4-d3



 53. Ke2-d1     Bf4xd2



 54. Kd1xd2     Ne6-g5



 55. Nh4-f5     Ng5-f3



 56. Kd2-e3     Nf3-e5



 57. Nf5-d6+    Kc4-c3



 58. Nd6-e4+    Kc3-c2



 59.  g4-g5     Ne5-g6



 60. Ke3-d4     Draw    

[ Editor's Note: GM Kamsky called Arbiter Hamid at 9:15 AM Elista Time (GMT+4; 1:15 AM New York Time) to offer the draw. GM Karpov accepted immediately. The sealed move was 60. Kd4. Game 18, very possibly the last game of the Championship, begins Wednesday at 4 PM Elista time (8 AM New York time, GMT-4) ]

By achieving a draw in Game Seventeen, at least some of the pressure is off the champion -- he knows that he has three games to make a half point (not an overwhelming task...).

For Gata, the next game will be the most important ... a win on Wednesday, and suddenly everything else will seem more possible ... As in all sporting activities, you take it one game at a time ... Every winning streak starts with that first game.

The challenger has White in the upcoming Game Eighteen ... What strategy should he use?

We recommend that he continue his policy of a long, protracted struggle, one that continues right into the ending ... (no Blackmar-Diemer Gambits, please!).

The same situation exists for Kamsky that existed for Kasparov in Seville in 1987 - he's in a must-win situation with White. In 1987, Kasparov needed one win to keep his title; in 1996, Kamsky needs one win to start a winning streak.

Perhaps a solid opening, like the Torre Attack, would do fine ... Karpov has a history of meeting that opening by trying to snatch the b2-pawn (with ... Qb6). Obviously this is not the safest line for Black - Karpov won't want to risk it under the present circumstances. And with his options limited...?

It's interesting to note that when Kasparov needed a win in 1987, he didn't choose the sharpest lines...he chose a solid Reti Opening with 1. Nf3 that put all the pressure (not to lose) on the other guy.

Gata is doing what he must, playing each game to a finish. This is certainly not New York!