World rapid champion Viswanathan Anand announced his arrival at Linares Super Grandmasters Chess tournament with a victory over Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria in the second round of the 22nd edition of the event in Linares, Spain.
Top rated Gary Kasparov of Russia tried hard to break through the defences of FIDE world champion Rustam Kasimdzhanov of Uzbekistan but had to settle for a draw in the other keenly contested game of the day. Britain's Michael Adams and Hungarian Peter Leko played out a tame draw.
The Category-20, Euros 297,000 prize money event is being played on a double round-robin basis with seven players.
As things stand now, Anand, Kasparov, Topalov and Leko share the lead with one point each but Anand's 'plus one' means the Indian ace is effectively in sole lead after playing only one game. 'Plus one' means a player has scored one victory apart from draws in his remaining matches.
Anand was simply in his element against Topalov even though the latter was on a high after being in sole lead.
Playing white, Anand employed his trademark English attack against the Sicilian Nazdorf and maintained his stronghold right through the game.
For the major part of the game, Topalov looked like contesting Anand move for move but once white got a substantial advantage, the Bulgarian proved no match. Anand first pocketed a pawn and later liquidated to an endgame where only he could win. Topalov eventually could not find a way out and ventured into a lost endgame after losing a piece. Anand won after 59 moves.
Adams and Leko played out a draw in no time. The Englishman played with his first white in the event and, obviously after a disastrous loss against Topalov in the first round itself, was in no mood to take any undue risk. Leko, however, deserved credit for attaining an easy draw which came about after he threatened to play the Marshall Gambit as black, an opening on the favoured list of Adams as well.
Adams went for the anti-Marshall variation where Leko had little difficulty in securing the balance. The game lasted just 18 moves and at the time of the draw agreement only a pawn and a couple of pieces were traded.
Kasimdzhanov knew he was destined to work hard against Kasparov and that was precisely the case. The last game to end in the day lasted 51 moves.
Pairings for Round 3: Leko v Anand; Kasimdzhanov v Adams; Vallejo Pons v Kasparov. Free day: Topalov
Results of Round 2: Kasparov drew with Kasimdzhanov; Adams drew with Leko; Anand beat Topalov. Free day: Vallejo Pons
Standings after Round 2: 1. Anand 1.0/1; 2. Kasparov, Leko, Kasimdzhanov and Topalov (all 1.0/2); 6. Vallejo Pons 0.5/1; 7. Adams 0.5/2.
Moves of Anand's game in second round:
Anand v Topalov - (Round 2, Linares)
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e6 7.f3 b5 8.g4 h6 9.Qd2 b4 10.Na4 Nbd7 11.0-0-0 Ne5 12.b3 d5 13.Bf4 Bd6 14.Bxe5 14...Bxe5 15.Nc6 Qc7 16.Nxe5 Qxe5 17.Qxb4 dxe4 18.Nb6 Rb8 19.Kb1 Qc7 20.Qa4+ Kf8 21.Nxc8 Rxc8 22.Qc4 Qxc4 23.Bxc4 a5 24.Ba6 Rb8 25.fxe4 h5 26.gxh5 Nxe4 27.Rd4 Nf6 28.Be2 Nxh5 29.Rh4 g6 30.Rg1 Ke7 31.Ra4 Ra8 32.Bf3 Ra7 33.Rg5 f5 34.Rxg6 Kf7 35.Rg2 Nf6 36.Re2 Rh3 37.Bh1 Ng4 38.Kb2 Kf6 39.Bg2 Rxh2 40.Bf3 Rxe2 41.Bxe2 Ne3 42.c4 e5 43.c5 e4 44.b4 Rc7 45.bxa5 Rxc5 46.a6 Nd5 47.a7 Nc7 48.a8Q Nxa8 49.Rxa8 f4 50.Rf8+ Ke5 51.Bg4 f3 52.Rf5+ Kd4 53.Rxc5 Kxc5 54.Kc3 Kb5 55.Kd2 f2 56.Be2+ Kb4 57.Kc2 Ka3 58.Kb1 e3 59.Ka1 1-0
More from rediff