Topalov sets date with Anand in final

Leon, Spain, July 7 (UNI) Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria defeated Uzbek Grandmaster Rustam Kasimdzhanov 2.5-1.5 in the second semifianl to set a date with defending champion and World No 1 Viswanathan Anand in a repeat of last year's final at the Ciudad de Leon Chess Meet here.

The Bulgarian Grandmaster won the first and second game, Kasimdzhanov pulled back one but Topalov drew the last game to book a berth in the final.

Playing with white pieces, Topalov opened his first game with d4 move and his Rustam Kasimdzhanov replied with d5 and after the normal moves the game was played on the Catalan closed variation.

The Bulgarian Grandmaster playing with this unusual move was soon ahead in time, while his opponent spent 10 minutes more than Topalov for the first 20 moves, which in the end became a big advantage for the former World Champion.

Infact, the Uzbek Grandmaster outplayed Topalov in all the spheres of the game but with time running out, the 27th ranked overlooked the winning moves first on the 40th and later on the 57th. The misses cost him dear and he finally surrendered in the 70th move.

In the second game, Kasimdzhanov had the advantage of white pieces and both the players decided to play the game on the Kings Indian variation.

Using black pieces to good affect Topalov played a nice Benoni type game and after a strong fight wrested the initiative and finished the game.

With two losses Kasimdzhanov had to win the third and fourth games in order to tie the match.

In the third game, both the Grandmasters played a quiet line of Slav Defence, but Kasimdzhanov messed it up. However Topalov's reaction was not accurate and he failed to capitalise on the advantage. Thereafter, the Uzbek didn't give any further chance and won the game, giving some hope in the last game.

In the last game, King's Indian variation was played again and a draw was reached only after a fierce fight.

In an exclusive interview, Topalov told UNI ''Kasimdzhanov was winning the first game but somehow he failed to see the right move and I could win the game''.

About his first game loss which turned the table, Kasimzdhanov said, ''I am not ashamed of losing, because there was a lot of fight.

''I could have won the first game, had chances in the second one, Topalov wouldn't have lost the third had he concentrated on his game'' he added.

The final standing is a repetition of the last year where both Anand and Topalov made it to the finals. In the last edition of the championship Anand, who has a stranglehold over the meet winning it six times, defeated Topalov.

UNI