ANAND DRAWS, BUT STAYS IN JOINT LEAD IN WORLD CHESS

indiainteracts.com
Published on September 18, 2007 by IANS
India

World No.1 Viswanathan Anand of India allowed a great winning
opportunity to slip by and had to be content with a draw against
Russian Alexander Morozevich in the fourth round of the World Chess
Championships here Monday. Anand, who drew the game in 57 moves,
stays in joint lead with Russian Vladimir Kramnik, both having 2.5
points from four games.

Four players, including Russia’s Morozevich and Alexander Grischuk,
Boris Gelfand of Israel, and Lev Aronian of Armenia have two points
each. Peter Leko of Hungary and Peter Svidler of Russia have 1.5
points each.

For the third day in a row, Anand, an NIIT brand ambassador, was in
a featured game – this one against Morozevich, considered to be one
of the most original, top class players.

Morozevich had just recovered from the second round loss to Kramnik
and outplayed Svidler in third.

The Anand-Morozevich game went into the fashionable Meran variation
of the Slav defence. The duo played at a blitz-like speed along
well-known lines.

Once again from here, Anand, showing great preparations, came up with
a completely different new plan.

After a strong opening, Anand playing black had a variety of options
in the middle game and consolidate some advantage. White was forced
to win an exchange but a black pawn got to d3 and was supported by
a powerful pair of bishops.

As the players began to play faster, Anand had a decisive advantage
but the question was whether he really needed to go for the knight
sacrifice earlier.

Yet, at this stage after 40 moves, Anand’s win looked almost sure.

Anand, keen to finish the game fast, seemed to be going
strong. Morozevich’s king was in a delicate situation and though the
material was equal, it was hard to find adequate moves.

Anand must have been disappointed as he had advantage throughout
the game till he missed a chance towards the end in a completely
winning position.

Morozevich was stubbornly finding defensive resources and was rewarded
for his effort by achieving to draw in this seemingly hopeless game.

Grischuk held Kramnik to a draw in 60 moves from a Catalan. Grischuk
fought well and held out for a good draw.

Aronian handed Leko a solid defeat in 45 moves from English Symmetrical
start, and Svidler and Gelfand were engaged in a short 24-move draw
from Petroff.

Results of Round 4: Kramnik draw with Grischuk; Aronian beat Leko;
Morozevich drew with Anand; Svidler drew with Gelfand

Pairings for Round 5: Anand v Svidler; Gelfand v Aronian; Grischuk
v Morozevich; Leko v Kramnik

Standings after Round 4: 1. Anand and Kramnik 2.5 points; 3. Grischuk,
Gelfand, Morozevich and Aronian 2.0; 7. Svidler and Leko 1.5