Associated Press
October 15

Grandmaster Rustam Kasimdzhanov of Uzbekistan defeated China's Ye Jiangchuan Tuesday, advancing into the quarterfinals of the World Chess Cup 2002.

Defending champion Viswanathan Anand of India played to a draw with Russia's Vladimir Malakhov, whose countryman Sergei Rublevski lost to veteran Alexander Belyavski of Slovenia.

Kasimdzhanov opened with a solid defense. Ye managed a slight advantage in the middle game, but dropped it after trading queens with his opponent. Kasimdzhanov won in 58 moves.

Malakhov started off with the Catalan opening, accepted a pawn sacrifice and pressed for an advantage in the middle of play. Anand got his share of counterplay with some deft maneuvers. All the minor pieces were off the board when the two drew after 24 moves.

Belyavski, playing white, wore out Rublevski's defensive resources and won in 50 moves.

Britain's Nigel Short had an uneventful draw with Alexey Dreev of Russia in a game that lasted 31 moves.

In the women's section, India's Koneru Humpy outclassed Li Ruofan of China to go one up in the two-game mini-match. Now billed as the favorite to win the Women's cup, Humpy won a pawn in the 32nd move and forced Ruofan's resignation six moves later.

The other winner in the Women's tournament was Svetlana Matveeva of Russia, who dominated throughout the game and defeated Irina Krush of United States.

The tournament will see a change of pace in the quarterfinals, with two games played under normal time control. In case of a tight-score tie-break, shortened games will decide the winner.

Results:

Men: Vladimir Malakhov (Russia) drew Viswanathan Anand (India); Ye Jiangchuan (China) lost to Rustam Kasimdzhanov (Uzbekistan); Nigel Short (England) drew Alexey Dreev (Russia); Alexander Belyavski (Slovenia) beat Sergei Rublevski (Russia).

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