| The ULEB Euroleague has finally approved changes to the tournament regulations and has already notified the participating teams about this. In the 2004/05 edition, the Final Four of which will take place in Moscow, additional matches were introduced at the end of the second group stage. If previously, at the top 16 stage, only the group winners made it to the Final Four, now the two best teams from each quartet will form quarterfinal pairs, where matches will be played up to two victories according to the “1-1-1” scheme. Moreover, the team that takes a higher place in the second stage will have a home-court advantage. There is one more innovation. In the event that two clubs from the same country receive the right to play in the top four, they will not deliberately be reduced to one semi-final.
Russia is represented in the ULEB Euroleague by only one club - CSKA, which recently signed a contract with the Kazan UNICS center, Estonian Martin Myursepp. The Volga residents themselves have extended their relationship with Australian Christopher Anstey, Alexander Miloserdov, and Pyotr Samoilenko for another season and intend to continue to compete in the FIBA Euroleague as the current holder of this honorable trophy. Khimki near Moscow and Perm Ural Great are going to follow the example of UNICS. It is possible that another Russian team will receive a “wild card” - a special invitation from the organizers. But the capital's Dynamo has already submitted an application to participate in the ULEB Cup. Ilya TRISVIATSKY
The World Knockout Championship has started
The men's world chess championship in the knockout system has started in the capital of Libya, Tripoli. In terms of the composition of participants, this championship is the weakest since the International Chess Federation (FIDE) introduced the current competition regulations. Among the 128 applicants for the world crown, there is no previous champion of the Ukrainian Ruslan Ponomarev, four leaders of the rating list - Vladimir Kramnik, Garry Kasparov, Indian Viswanathan Anand and Hungarian Peter Leko. Absent are Anatoly Karpov and a number of famous grandmasters who have not received personal contracts from FIDE. The Libyan authorities do not issue entry visas to Israeli citizens and those who often visit this country due to the nature of their activities.
Among the 128 participants in the tournament, the most Russians are 19. The highest rating belongs to the Bulgarian Veselin Topalov, the most obvious favorites include our Alexander Grischuk and Alexander Morozevich, the Ukrainian Vasily Ivanchuk, the Englishmen Michael Adams and Nigel Short. In the first games of the opening round, which took place on Saturday, perhaps two sensational results should be highlighted. Georgian Zurab Azmaiparashvili lost with black to the little-known Iranian Mortez Mohjoub, and Moldavian grandmaster Viorel Bologan lost to Filipino Mark Paragua. The favorites of the pairs suffered both defeats with black pieces. The championship will last until July 13. The final match will consist of six games (plus a tiebreak if necessary) and will begin on July 6.
According to FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov's plans, the new champion will then meet Garry Kasparov. Kramnik and Leko will play each other, and then the winners of these pairs will determine the “absolute” world champion in a head-to-head confrontation. Vladimir ILYIN
Ivanov pleasantly surprised at the European Cup
On the first day of competition at the European Athletics Team Cup in Bydgoszcz (Poland), Russian athletes took first places in four disciplines and confidently led the overall standings. Victories were won by Olga Kotlyarova (400 m run), Olga Raspopova (800 m), Gulnara Samitova (3000 m) and Anna Pyatykh (triple jump). Our women's team, a multiple winner of this tournament, after Saturday's starts broke away from the second- and third-placed teams of Poland and France by a gigantic distance of 23 points.
On the first day, the men did not win in any event of the program and were in fifth position, while the British team was in the lead. At the same time, it should be noted the unexpected success of the Russian runner Sergei Ivanov at a distance of 5000 meters, who lost only 0.04 seconds. the winner is Briton John Mayock. This discipline is considered problematic for us; Russian runners have not achieved significant results in it for a long time.
The International Athletics Federation has decided to cancel all results shown by American runner Kelly White since December 15, 2000 for using the banned substance modafinil. Thus, the gold medal in the 200 m competition at the 2003 World Championships in Paris automatically goes to Anastasia Kapachinskaya. At the same time, the Russian woman, who was later caught using stanozolol, is herself serving a period of disqualification. Mikhail TRYUGAN
Lowe signed a contract with CSKA
According to Brazilian media, Palmeiras football club striker Vagner Lowe has signed a contract with Russian champion CSKA. The agreement is for four seasons. The transfer amount is also given - $7.5 million. This is a record deal for our country. 19-year-old Lowe showed excellent scoring abilities in his homeland - in the last Brazilian championship he scored 19 goals against opponents. The footballer himself has said more than once that he plans to move his entire family to Moscow during his performance in Russia, and he also promised to score three goals in each game. Vladimir ILYIN
NHL prepares options in case of lockout
The well-known sports agency IMG began discussing with the NHL players' union the possibility of organizing a unique match between the Canadian and Russian national teams, consisting of hockey players from the overseas league. This meeting is planned to be held on the night of January 1, 2005, but, of course, only if the NHL avoids a predictable lockout. According to IMG, the game should take place in an open stadium to gather the maximum number of spectators, and will be dedicated to the historical USSR-Canada super series of 1972. Mikhail TRYUGAN
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