CHESS : INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Anatoly Karpov of Russia leads Gata Kamsky of New York, 3-2, in the World Chess Federation (FIDE) world championship match in Elista, Russia. Karpov has won the first and fourth games, while Kamsky took the second game. The 20-game match will continue on even-numbered days until one player reaches 10 1/2 points.

Kamsky, the 22-year-old former U.S. champion, has played six matches since January 1994, losing only to Viswanathan Anand (4 1/2-6 1/2). His crushes of Vladimir Kramnik (4 1/2-1 1/2), Nigel Short (5 1/2-1 1/2) and Valery Salov (5 1/2-1 1/2) were especially impressive. Quite rightly, though, he is considered an underdog against Karpov, 45, who has greater experience (seven world championship matches) and a far superior tournament record.

The first four games were hard fights, lasting at least 45 moves. This suits Kamsky, who should outlast his older opponent. But the strange match conditions (40 moves in two hours, then the slower rate of 16 moves in one hour, then adjournment) aid Karpov.

Until three years ago, FIDE was the leading chess organization in the world. But the defection of world champion Garry Kasparov, who created the rival Professional Chess Assn., and a series of poor decisions by FIDE officials have seriously damaged FIDE’s reputation. To survive, FIDE must conduct this pseudo-championship, then cooperate with the PCA on a title unification match, a true world championship.

Chess fans with access to the Internet may follow the action live by calling FIDE’s official Web server at https://chess.jet.msk.su. Games start at 5 a.m. PDT.

Judit Polgar of Hungary and the world’s hottest player, Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria, shared first place in a double-round quadrangular tournament in Leon, Spain. Each scored 3 1/2-2 1/2. Peter Leko, the 16-year-old Hungarian grandmaster, finished third at 3-3, and Miguel Illescas Cordoba of Spain had 2-4.

Polgar led the first cycle, thanks to victories over Topalov and Illescas, but Topalov caught up by defeating her in the fourth round. Topalov has tied for first place in Amsterdam, Madrid, Dos Hermanas and Leon, sites of four of the strongest tournaments of 1996.

LOCAL NEWS

The U.S. Game/60 Championship, a nine-round tournament, takes place June 21-23 on the sixth floor of Hollywood Park Casino, 1088 S. Prairie Ave. in Inglewood. This is the third straight year that the national championship of one-hour games will be held in Southern California. Call Randy Hough at (818) 282-7412 for all of the details.

The Wilshire Chess Society will host its monthly Action chess quad tournament on June 23 in the Community Room (third floor, near the food court) of the Westside Pavilion, Pico at Overland in Los Angeles. Register at the site at 10 a.m.