Anand Draws Karjakin, Leads

Anand Draws Karjakin, Leads
By Arvind Aaron

Former world champion Viswanathan Anand drew Sergey Karjakin of Russia in round six after 33 moves to maintain his slender half point lead in the FIDE Candidates Chess Tournament at Russia on March 19. Eight rounds remains to be played in this 8-player double round robin tournament.

As white Anand faced the Berlin variation of the Ruy Lopez from Karjakin and was unable to break through in the rook and minor piece ending. A draw was agreed upon after 33 moves. The first cycle of the round robin is about to conclude. Anand has to play Svidler next.

The highlight of the round was the defeat of the two older Russian players, Kramnik and Svidler. Topalov beat Kramnik in a queen’s gambit and Mamedyarov beat the host entrant, Svidler in a Dutch defence.

The results (round six): V Topalov (Bul) 3 beat V Kramnik (Rus) 3; V Anand (Ind) 4 drew with S Karjakin (Rus) 2.5; S Mamedyarov (Aze) 3 bt P Svidler (Rus) 3; L Aronian (Arm) 3.5 drew with D Andreikin (Rus) 2.

The moves:

V Anand – S Karjakin
Round 6, Ruy Lopez, Berlin Variation C67
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. h3 Ke8 10. Nc3 h5 11. Bf4 Be7 12. Rad1 Be6 13. Ng5 Rh6 14. Rfe1 Bb4 15. g4 hxg4 16. hxg4 Ne7 17. Nxe6 Rxe6 18. Kg2 Bxc3 19. bxc3 Rd8 20. Rxd8+ Kxd8 21. Rh1 Nd5 22. Bg3 g5 23. c4 Nc3 24. Kf3 Rg6 25. a3 Na4 26. Ke4 Nc5+ 27. Kf5 Ne6 28. Rh8+ Kd7 29. c3 Ng7+ 30. Ke4 Ne6 31. f3 c5 32. Bf2 a6 33.
Be3 b6 1/2-1/2

Results of round – 6