The Hindu : Sport / Chess : Eighth-game draw takes Anand closer to title

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Eighth-game draw takes Anand closer to title

Rakesh Rao

Anand leads the 12-game match 5.5-2.5
Kramnik needed nothing less than a win

BONN: After an intense battle lasting just under four hours, a frustrating draw for Vladimir Kramnik ended in a morale-boosting victory for Viswanthan Anand.

The 39-move deadlock, that came after Anand made Kramnik take a draw by giving perpetual checks in the eighth game of the World chess championship on Friday, was a significant step forward for Anand and a serious setback for Kramnik.

With Anand leading by three points, this game was seen as Kramnik’s last chance to use his white pieces as a vehicle for a much-needed victory to make an immediate comeback into the match.

A ‘novelty’ again

He needed nothing less than a win but Anand once again uncorked a ‘novelty’ to leave Kramnik in deep thought.

Thereafter, Kramnik did get a better position but Anand used the opportunity to display his rock-solid defensive skills and came out unscathed.

For the record, Anand leads the 12-game match 5.5-2.5.

In theremaining four games, Anand needs one victory, or two draws, to keep the crown.

Anand plays white when the players return after a day’s rest for the ninth game.

Anand, aiming to make a hat-trick of victories with black pieces, had a choice.

He could have chosen a solid opening line leading to an objectively drawn position or forced Kramnik into a double-edged, tactical continuation where a decisive result was probable.

Since Anand is known for being tactically sharper than Kramnik, the chess world waited for the champion to dictate the course of action.

Anand chose an action-filled line where even a small error, from either player, could have led to a decisive game.

Instead of the Meran variation, seen in the third and fifth games, Anand played the sharper Vienna variation but again in Queen’s Gambit Declined.

After the routine exchange of a couple of minor pieces, Anand once more played by keeping his king in the centre and a semi-open kingside file controlled by a rook.

Kramnik, who confessed that he did not like his position after theopening slowly improved it.

“For the first time in the match, I had a slightly better position.This was quite pleasant to be on the right side of the board. Myopponent played a very interesting move, if it was a novelty (on the10th move).

“Black did play an inaccurate rook-move. At some point,black’s position became really dangerous. Vishy managed to find some very accurate defensive moves.

“I did keep some advantage but it was not in the spirit of the position. I was nominally better, but once black brings his rook into play, it is okay for him. In the end, I can only give perpetual (checks). There is nothing I can do.”

Anand, too, indicated that there he was not without worries. “At one point, (after the 21st move), I guessed I had done somethinginaccurate. The position gives white a lot of possibilities.

“I have a choice between various set-ups. But once we have only the major pieces, perhaps, I can hold this (position). But in general, white’s better.

“There’s no doubt about it in the whole game. Black’s position was worse but still defensible.”

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