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chess--anand/biel (switzerland)
biel (switzerland), july 26 (uni) grandmaster viswanathan anand (3)
of india took the disadvantage of black pieces in his stride to
hold world champion anatoly karpov (3) of russia to a draw in
the fourth round of credit suisse international grandmasters chess
tournament being played at congress centre here.
Anand continues to share the lead with karpov grandmaster boris
gelfand (2.5) improved his position by scoring a fighting win over
tailender yannik pelletier (0.5) of switzerland.
The duel between the top two seeds was witnessed by a large
gathering. The spectators wanted a fascinating duel and both
karpov and anand did not disappoint them even the game ended in a
draw''. To defend the black side against karpov's slow pressure
is not easy and see how easily anand achieved an equal
position'', remarked grandmaster hertneck of germany.
The most remarkable thing was anand's confidence he employed semi
slav opening--an opening with which he had lost the final game to
karpov in the world championship quarter final match at brussels
(belgium) in 1991. Instead of avoiding the opening anand repeated
the same and scored a major psychological victory in drawing the
game.
the game was a tame affair to the eyes of a common spectator.
However, the connoissuers enjoyed the cat and mouse tactics.
Karpov obtained a small plus out of the opening and he sat down to
expand it with his usual technique of wearing down his opponent.
Anand easily twarted this plan by exchanging pieces at
regular interval.
Anand's 28th move forced exchange of the queens generally a draw
is agreed at such a dead equal position. But karpov who faces anand
with black pieces in their next meeting was desparate for a win. He
tried all sorts of manouevers to break down anand's rock solid
defence. The indian grandmaster methodically closed down all the
avenues of attack and karpov offered a draw on 415 move.
Boris gelfand (2.5) of belarus reached within a striking distance of
the leaders by exploiting his opponent's lack of experience 20
year old pelletier (0.5) of switzerland got into a difficult
position by taking his queen away from the field of action on 11th
move. Gelfand obtained a comfortable plus only to blow most of it
away by his own 14th move. Yannik pelletier came back into the game
with his next move. Thereafter gelfand played cautiously and
pocketed one pawn with a small combination on his 31st move.
Pelletier surrendered the battle soon when gelfand threatened
to queen his pawn.
Former world junior champion joel lautier (1.5) of france ended
the draught by scoring a stylish victory over defending
co-champion vadim milov (1.5) of switzerland in 42 moves of slav
defence. Lautier's final combination netted milov's queen and the
latter rsigned immediately.
results of fourth round:
karpov, anatoly (3) draw anand, viswanathan (3),
lautier, joel (1.5) beat milov, vadim (1.5),
pelletier, yannick (0.5) lost to gelfand, boris (2.5).
White: anatoly karpov black: v anand
1. D4 d5 2. C4 c6 3. Nc3 nf6 4. E3 e6 5. Nf3 nbd7 6.
Qc2 bd6 7. Bd3 0-0 8.
0-0 dxc4 9. Bxc4 a6 10. Bd2 c5 11. Dxc5 nxc5 12. Be2 b5 13.
B4 ncd7 14.
Ne4 be7 15. Nxf6"bxf6 16. Bc3 bb7 17.Bxf6 nxf6 18.
Qb2 qe7 19. Rfcl.
Nd5 20.A3 rfc8 21. Ne5 nb6 22. Rxc8"rxc8 23. Rcl rxcl"24.
Qxcl qd6
25. Nd3 nd7 26. F3 kf8 27. Qc3 f6 28. Qc2 qc6 29.
Qxc6 bxc6 30. E4 ke7
31. Kf2 e5 32. Bdl kd6 33. Bb3 nf8 34. Ke3 g5 35. G3 bb7 36.
Nc5 bc8 37.
Kd2 a5 38. Kc3 a4 39. Bg8 h6 40. Bf7 be6 41. Bh5 bd7
draw agreed.
Uni
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