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Leko, Adams End Tied in Rapid Match

Michael Adams jumped out to an impressive 3-0 lead, but couldn't capitalize on his early success, as his match with Peter Leko ended in a 4-4 draw. Each player won three games, with two draws.

The eight game match, played in Miskolc, Hungary, had a time control of 25 minutes plus 5 seconds per move. There were two matches played each day from June 2nd-5th.

After Adams' initial three wins, the Englishman needed just 1.5 more points in the final five games to claim victory. However, Leko fought back to win the next three games, evening the match at three points each.

On the final day, both players were poised to take control of the match by winning just one of the final two games. Unfortunately, neither player was able to break through, and the match ended in a 4-4 tie.

Here is a win by each player. First is Adam's win with the white pieces in game 1 of the match; the second game is a black win by Leko, the 5th of the match.

White: Adams, M (2737)
Black: Leko, P (2763)
Leko-Adams Rapid Match, Game 1
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. a4 Rb8 8. d3 d6 9. h3 O-O 10. Nbd2 Ne7 11. Re1 Ng6 12. Nf1 h6 13. Ne3 Be6 14. c3 Bxb3 15. Qxb3 Re8 16. axb5 axb5 17. Nf5 Qd7 18. Be3 Bxe3 19. Nxe3 Nf4 20. Qc2 b4 21. c4 c6 22. Ra5 Ra8 23. Rea1 Rxa5 24. Rxa5 g6 25. Nh2 Kg7 26. Nhg4 Nh7 27. Qd2 h5 28. Nh2 c5 29. Nd5 Nxd5 30. cxd5 Qb7 31. b3 Ra8 32. Qa2 Rxa5 33. Qxa5 Nf6 34. Nf3 Nxd5 35. exd5 Qxd5 36. Qa6 e4 37. dxe4 Qxb3 38. Qxd6 Qb1+ 39. Kh2 Qc2 40. Qe5+ Kg8 41. Qf6 Qxe4 42. Ne5 Qd5 43. Nc6 Qe4 44. Ne7+ Kf8 45. Nc6 Ke8 46. Qd8+ 1-0

White: Leko, P (2763)
Black: Adams, M (2737)
Leko-Adams Rapid Match, Game 5
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Bc4 d6 5. d3 Be7 6. Nd2 Nf6 7. Nf1 Bg4 8. f3 Be6 9. Ne3 O-O 10. O-O Rb8 11. a3 Nd4 12. Ba2 b5 13. Ncd5 Nxd5 14. Bxd5 Bg5 15. Bxe6 Nxe6 16. a4 Bxe3+ 17. Bxe3 bxa4 18. Ra2 Qd7 19. Qa1 Nd4 20. Bxd4 cxd4 21. Rxa4 Rxb2 22. Rxa7 Rb7 23. Rxb7 Qxb7 24. Rb1 Qc6 25. Rb2 d5 26. h3 dxe4 27. dxe4 Qc3 28. Qb1 Qe3+ 29. Kh1 g6 30. Rb8 Qg5 31. Rxf8+ Kxf8 32. Qe1 Kg7 33. g3 Qf6 34. Kg2 Qc6 35. Qd2 h6 36. h4 f5 37. Qd3 Kf6 38. Kf2 fxe4 39. fxe4 h5 40. Ke2 Qa4 41. Qd2 Qc4+ 42. Kf2 Ke6 43. Kg2 Kd6 44. Kf2 Kc6 45. Kg2 Kb5 46. Kf2 Ka4 47. Kg2 Ka3 48. Qa5+ Kb2 49. Qxe5 Kxc2 50. Qf6 d3 51. Qxg6 d2 52. e5+ Kc1 53. Qh6 Qe4+ 54. Kh2 Qe2+ 55. Kh3 Qxe5 56. Qc6+ Kb2 57. Qb7+ Kc2 58. Qc6+ Kb1 59. Qb7+ Qb2 60. Qe4+ Qc2 61. Qb4+ Kc1 62. Qa3+ Qb2 63. Qc5+ Kb1 64. Qxh5 Qb3 65. Qf5+ Kc1 66. Qc5+ Kb2 67. Qe5+ Qc3 68. Qb5+ Kc2 69. Qf5+ Qd3 70. Qc5+ Kb3 71. Qb6+ Kc4 72. Qa6+ Kd4 73. Qd6+ Ke3 74. Qe6+ Kf2 75. Qf6+ Qf3 76. Qb6+ Qe3 77. Qf6+ Ke1 78. Kg2 Qe2+ 79. Kh3 Qf1+ 0-1