Anand held by Bologan on 'heartbreak' day for India

Super Grandmaster Vishwanathan Anand was held to a draw by Moldovan GM Viktor Bologan in the first game of the second round in the FIDE World Chess Championship, on a heartbreaking day for India, which saw its other hope Krishnan Sasikiran being outwitted by Dutchman Loek van Wely in Delhi on Thursday.

Playing with black pieces, Anand opted to play safe by going for the Sicilian defence against Bologan's King Pawn opening.

Bologan got a slight edge in the position arisen from Rossolimo variation and both players castled on opposite side.

The Moldovan decided to attack on Anand's king and pushed his 'g' and 'h' pawns ahead to create the pressure. But the world number two Indian carefully exchanged all the minor pieces and entered in two rook, queen ending.

Bologan decided to split the point after 27 moves despite having a minute edge, which according to Anand was a sensible decision.

On Friday, Anand will play with white pieces in the second game of the second round.

The young Indian sensation Sasikiran, pitted against the Netherlands' new star van Wely, after veteran Jan Timman took a back seat, was at a loss in the endgame where he gave away too many material pieces.

The Dutchman started with Grunfeld defence and played Qa5 in the opening leaving Sasikiran in a long thought which prompted GM Dibyendu Barua to describe van Wely's opening as a novelty.

Sasikiran entered in three minor piece ending with van Wely having advantageous position in the endgame.

Leok van Wely got Sasikiran's two pieces for a rook in a beautiful combination. After that van Wely did not give a single chance to equalise to the Indian GM.

Sasikiran resigned when he was not able to stop further material loss.

On Friday, Sasikiran will play black pieces and he has to win to take the match into the tie-breaker.

GM Rustam Kasimdzhanov of Uzbekistan outplayed GM Pavel Tregubov of Russia in an ultra-sharp game. Tregubov opened with Slav defence and then played 'f5' to land in Dutch setup.

Kasimdzhanov opened up his 'g' file and brought Tregubov's king under fire. Taking advantage of his powerful double bishop and vulnerable position of black's king, the Uzbek forced Tregubov to give up his queen.

Even after losing the queen, Tregubov could not defend further and surrendered on the 33rd move.

Women's world champion WGM Xie Xun of China was comfortably placed against Svetlana Matvieva of Russia.

The Chinese was having two knights and major pieces against Matvieva's two bishops and major pieces. As the position is of closed nature, Xie's knights are more powerful than her opponent's bishops.

Both the knights were in the enemy teritory and it will be difficult for the Russian to force a draw.

Former woman world champion Maya Chiburdanidze of Russia, was defending a bad position against Corina Peptan of Romania.

In most of the other matches, seeded players played safe and most of the games ended in quick draws.

GM Dao Thien Hai of Vietnam drew with GM Michael Adams of England. Teenage GM Etienne Bacrot of France drew with GM Peter Svidler of Russia; GM Boris Gulko of the United States drew with Alexander Chernin of Hungary.

The trend continued in the women's section also as Marta Zielinska of Poland drew with Russia's Ekaterina Kovalevskaya; Tatjana Vasilevich of Ukraine drew American Irina Crush; Peng Zhaoqin of the Netherland drew with Wang Lei of China and Julia Demina of Russia drew with Maritza Arribas of Cuba.