The only way to go to the next round both of them is a draw, if we suppose of course that they will win all of their games, just like it happened. So they agreed to it. It is totally fair and legal. It also happens at Chess, Football, etc...

So when you say: "I smell something fishy, and if I find out that some wheeling and dealing has gone on behind the scenes", do you mean the draw aggrement?
I don't see something illegal. It's not the best thing to see, but nothing illegal at all.

<>21...Af5 22.Cxi7+ Kj8 23.Ai5

>And here Chessmaster1000 offered 23...Ah4+ to >delay the invetiable.

>But, why not take the Chancellor with 23...Kxi7 >here? I offer:

>23...Kxi7 24. Ag6+ Kh6 25. Ai5+ Ki7 with a draw.

Yeah you are right. I didn't looked at the position when i've given the line and i analysed everything in my mind, so i thought that after 23...Kxi7 the discovered check would bring to the King big problems and i rejected this line as good for White, but i didn't count the g4 square is guarded so the Queen can't go there.

>Everything else looks to lose for white.

Maybe but i have something else in my mind, and this time i will analyse it on board for not making again such mistakes.

Well White Shark can't answer as he is a Brain Pawn but i can:)

After 21...Af5 there is the forced(i think) line for both:
22.Cxi7+ Kj8 23.Ai5 Ah4+ 24.Axh4 Ne2 25.Aj5! Cf6 and now the 26.Ng4 or 26.Ci5 wins.

Can anyone find a move for Black to refute the win?