This week's updates

This day was the playoffs for the Round 4 two-game mini-matches. Only 8 players will advance out of the original 100. We continue with the two game mini-matches in this round. A score of 1.5 (one win and one draw) advances to Round 5. If the two players are tied at the end of the two games, then a play-off sequence takes place the third day of the round. (For information on play-off rules, see the official FIDE site.)

American Participants

Nine Americans competed in the event. Eight played in Round 1, of whom three advanced into Round 2, and one had an automatic entry into Round 2. All four Americans were eliminated in the second round.

USCF coverage, including GM Rohde's commentary, will continue throughout the event.

Round 4 Pairings

• Topalov - Kramnik
• Shirov - Short
• Nispeanu - Ivanchuk
• Khalifman - Gelfand
• J. Polgar - Zvjaginsev
• Adams - Dreev
• Movsesian - Federov
• Georgiev - Akopian

Results of Round 4, Game Playoffs

Kramnik won both games of the playoffs, advancing against Topalov. Judit Polgar also won her two play-off games, eliminating Zvjaginsev. In an upset, Nisipeanu advanced over Ivanchuk with 1.5 when the latter dropped a piece on move 14 of their second game. Khalifman also advanced with 1.5 vs Gelfand. It took Movsesian 4 games to eliminate Federov and advance with 2.5/4. Mickey Adams also required 4 games, but after the first two draws he then scored two full points against Dreev.

Advancing to Round 5

• Adams, Akopian, Khalifman, Kramnik, Movsesian, Nispeanu, J. Polgar, Shirov

Eliminated in round 4

• Dreev, Federov, Georgiev, Gelfand, Ivanchuk, Short, Topalov, Zvjaginsev

Viewing the Commentary

At least two games per day are available in auto-play format (one diagram per move) with commentary from GM Rohde in our Games Archives. No Java is required to view these games. See the FIDE Official site for complete results.

Round by Round Results Summaries

Quarter Finals (8 Players Remain)

Semi Finals (4 Players Remain)

Finals (Akopian vs Khalifman in a Best of 6 Game Match)

Press Releases

Schedule and Player Information

The US Chess Federation is the official sanctioning body for tournament chess in the United States, and for US participation in international chess events. It has over 80,000 members. In addition to rating tournaments, the USCF supports and promotes chess activities in scholastics and correspondence chess. The USCF publishes two national magazines, CHESS LIFE and SCHOOLMATES (for children).