Khanty-Mansiysk Final: Kamsky wins, to challenge Topalov
16.12.2007 – American GM Gata Kamsky has won the FIDE World Cup. In the fourth game he was able to force a perpetual check and hold Alexei Shirov to a draw, which meant that he had won the Final 2.5:1.5 (three draws, one win). Normally the winner would go on to challenge the reigning World Champion, but according to a special rule instituted by FIDE Kamsky has to play Veselin Topalov first. Express report.

A total of 126 participants turned up on November 23 for the World Cup in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia, located about 1400 miles (2250 km) east of Moscow. The competition is taking place from November 24 to December 18.

Round seven (Final) Game four – Sunday, December 16th

On move 27 Kamsky sacrificed an exchange for a passed pawn on the e-file. On move 31 White gained an additional pawn, but Black could advance his pawn to e7 and force an immediate draw by perpetual check. The final score was 2.5:1.5 for the American GM, who had drawn three games and won one.

Kamsky,G (2714) - Shirov,A (2739) [B31]
World Cup Khanty-Mansiysk RUS (7.4), 16.12.2007
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.0-0 Bg7 5.c3 Nf6 6.Re1 0-0 7.d4 d5 8.e5 Ne4 9.Bxc6 bxc6 10.Nbd2 Bf5 11.Nh4 e6 12.Nxf5 exf5 13.f3 cxd4 14.cxd4 Ng5 15.b4 a5 16.bxa5 Rxa5 17.Nb3 Ra7 18.Bxg5 Qxg5 19.Qc2 Rc8 20.a4 Bf8 21.a5 Bb4 22.Re2 Qd8 23.e6 fxe6 24.Rxe6 Qd7 25.Qe2 Kf7 26.Re5 Bd6 27.f4 Bxe5 28.fxe5 Qb7 29.Nc5 Qb4 30.e6+ Kg8 31.Rd1 Qxa5 32.e7 Re8 33.Qe6+ Kg7 34.Qe5+ Kf7 35.Qe6+ ½-½. [Click to replay]

All pictures by from Khanty by Eugene Atarov for the official World Cup web site