Anand Keeps One Point Lead In Drawn Day

Anand Keeps One Point Lead In Drawn Day
By Arvind Aaron

Former world champion Viswanathan Anand drew Vladimir Kramnik of Russia with ease in 31 moves from a Catalan opening, black side game in round eleven in Russia on March 26, 2014. Anand leads with seven points from eleven rounds. Three rounds remain to be played in this 8-player double all play all.

Anand has defeated Aronian, Topalov and Mamedyarov by identical 1.5-0.5 scores and drawn Kramnik 1-1 in completed games. He is still to play Svidler, Karjakin and Andreikin in reverse games. Notably, Anand is the only undefeated player in this contest. If Anand makes, three draws in the upcoming games, Aronian will require a near impossible 3/3 to better the Indian.

With the black pieces, Anand did not face any problem in equalising. After 31 moves they arrived at a rook and two pawn ending and decided to draw the game. Sadly, all the four games in round eleven ended in draws. Aronian was in a minor piece ending against Svidler.

Anand is well placed to win this contest. The winner will emerge challenger to world champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway in a venue yet to be decided. It will happen later this year. Anand is playing at 2874 and is poised to gain his most rating from a single event in three years.

The results (round 11): Topalov (Bul) 4.5 drew Karjakin (Rus) 5.5; Kramnik (Rus) 5 drew Anand (Ind) 7; Svidler (Rus) 5.5 drew with Aronian (Arm) 6; Andreikin (Rus) 5 drew with Mamedyarov (Aze) 5.5.

The moves:

Vladimir Kramnik-Viswanathan Anand
Round 11, Catalan Opening, E05:
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Ne5 Nc6 8. Bxc6 bxc6 9. Nxc6 Qe8 10. Nxe7+ Qxe7 11. Na3 c5 12. dxc5 Qxc5 13. Be3 Qh5 14. f3 c3 15. bxc3 Qa5 16. Qc1 Ba6 17. c4 Rac8 18. Bxa7 Bxc4 19. Nxc4 Qxa7+ 20. Qe3 Qa6 21. Ne5 Rc2 22. Nd3 Nd5 23. Qf2 Rxa2 24. Rxa2 Qxa2 25. e4 Qa3 26. exd5 Qxd3 27. dxe6 fxe6 28. Qe1 Qd5 29. Qe3 h6 30. Re1 Rxf3 31. Qxe6+ 1/2-1/2