Dutchman Sjeng Schalken prevailed 6-2 6-4 over Kafelnikov while top seed Safin was upset 7-6 6-4 by qualifier Paul-Henri Mathieu of France.

Schalken's victory also stopped Kafelnikov's attempt to win his sixth consecutive title in Moscow.

Second seed Kafelnikov, who plans to retire at the end of the year, was trying to become the first person in the Open era to win a tournament for six years running.

But US Open semi-finalist Schalken, seeded seventh, clinched the first set in 35 minutes.

Kafelnikov saved four match points in the 10th game of the second set before Schalken hit a cross-court forehand to take the match in one hour 41 minutes.

Schalken said that the victory ranked among the best of his career.

"I was a little bit nervious to play him because he always plays so well here in Moscow," admitted the Dutchman.

"Everybody knows that he was going for a sixth title and he was close again reaching a semi-final, but I wanted to be the guy who finally beat him."

The 10,000-strong Moscow crowd was then further upset by Safin's defeat.

Mathieu edged a tight first set and then broke in the fifth and seventh games of the second set to take a 5-2 lead.

Ex-US Open champion Safin fought back by taking the next two games but the Frenchman, ranked 83 in the world, held his serve in the 10th game to reach his first major final.

"I'm a newcomer on the big tour so I think he was a bit surprised to see me play that well," said Mathieu, who took Andre Agassi to five sets in the fourth round of this year's French Open.