Uzbek chess player wins in Libya

Kasimdzhanov defied the odds to beat the favourite

Uzbekistan's Rustam Kasimdzhanov has won the World Chess Federation Championship in the Libyan capital.

In a dramatic final in Tripoli, he beat England's Michael Adams in the two rapid tiebreakers 1.5 to 0.5, after the first six games ended in a 3-3 draw.

The tournament has caused controversy, as some see it as a ploy by Colonel Gaddafi to end his country's isolation.

Most of the world's top players boycotted the championship in a dispute over the event's organisation.

"I feel great it's all over," said Kasimdzhanov, who was due to receive about $94,000 (£52,000) in prize money.

The 24-year-old grandmaster defeated Adams in the first game of the two 25-minute rapid tiebreakers and managed to draw the second one to seal the victory.

Adams - ranked sixth in the world and a pre-tournament favourite - would pocket about $76,000 (£41,000).

Players' anger

Only two of the world's top 10-rated players went to Tripoli.

Gaddafi is reportedly a keen chess player

They were angry that the world's highest-rated player, Gary Kasparov, was allowed to play the winner without going through qualifying rounds with 128 participants in the Tripoli tournament.

The championship was also marred by a visa row, after coaches of Israeli players were barred from entering Libya.

Last year, Libya publicly ditched its weapons of mass destruction programme, and declared a stockpile of chemical weapons to UN inspectors.

Libya also bid to host the 2010 football World Cup but South Africa was chosen instead.