World champion Viswanathan Anand played out an exciting draw with Hikaru Nakamura of the United States in the eighth and penultimate round of the London Chess Classic, here on Monday.
After a steady draw with Judit Polgar of Hungary in the previous round, it was a nerve-wracking game in which fortunes fluctuated and the draw was probably a good result.
On a day when tournament leader Magnus Carlsen of Norway had a bye, Russian Vladimir Kramnik crushed Gawain Jones of England.
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As things stand, Carlsen is on 17 points and Kramnik narrowed the gap to remain within striking distance on 15 points. Adams (12) is third, two points ahead of Nakamura, who enjoys a two-point advantage over Anand.
The results (eighth round): V. Anand (Ind, 8) drew with Hikaru Nakamura (Usa, 10); Levon Aronian (Arm, 7) drew with Michael Adams (Eng, 12); Vladimir Kramnik (Rus, 15) bt Gawain Jones (Eng, 3); Luke McShane (Eng, 5) lost to Judit Polgar (Hun, 5); Magnus Carlsen (Nor, 17) had a bye.