Anand Draws Giri

Anand Draws Giri
By Arvind Aaron

Five-time former world champion Viswanathan Anand drew Dutchman Anish Giri in the seventh round of the FIDE World Championship Candidates Tournament in Moscow on March 19, 2016.

Levon Aronian and Sergey Karjakin are leading at the half-way stage with 4½/7. At the completion of the first all-play-all, Anand is in third position with four points.

It is a double all play all for 8 players for a prize fund of €420,000. The winner will be decided by March 30. The winner takes on Carlsen at New York from Nov 11-30, 2016.

Anand played the Queen’s Gambit declined with black and drew Giri in 31 moves after reaching an equal bishop ending.

Anand has played better than his rating requirement in the first half. In the eighth round he faces Topalov with black.

The results (round 7): Giri (3½) drew Anand (4), Nakamura (3) bt Topalov (2), Svidler (3) drew Caruana (3½), Aronian (4½) drew Karjakin (4½).