2004 Dark Horse Award

GM Rustam Kasimdzhanov

     If ever there was a dark horse, Rustam fits the mold.  He was seed 27th in the FIDE KO. The 52nd rated player in the world, Rustam Kasimdzhanov shocked the world at the Tripoli FIDE KO championship. He did it the hard way, by defeating all 4 of the top seeds to win the KO. He defeated top seeds Topalov, Grischuk, Ivanchuk, and Adams. With this victory, Rustam earned the right to play Garry Kasparov for the FIDE half of the reunification. Hopefully this match will take place. Recently Kasimdzhanov jumped 22 positions in the Latest FIDE rating charts. He now stands at number 25 in the world. 

 Kasimdzhanov's other tournament results :
   First place at Pune super tournament India 

  This reporter hopes that Kasimdzhanov gets his big match against Kasparov. 

Kasimdzhanov's struggle to win the KO
Getting Strong now
Gonna Fly now 
Kasimdzhanov vs. Grischuk - 2004 FIDE KO
Latest on the Reunification - Kasparov vs. Kasimdzhanov
How Kasimdzhanov won the 2004 Libya KO 
Rustam Kasimdzhanov - Chess Reporter

2003 Dark Horse Award