Sport - Chess   

Topalov, Svidler start well

By Arvind Aaron

Cap d'Agde Oct. 25. If it were a match against a computer programme, Anand would have handed the resignation long back. However, he sat there hoping for Shirov to falter and it did happen. Shirov refused to recapture a poorly placed white bishop and Anand repeated the position and played a Houdini to save a valuable half point.

The Indian was in all kinds of trouble with the white pieces. After being unable to capitalise on both his whites, Anand made two draws playing the Ruy Lopez to be on one point from two rounds. Kramnik, the favourite in the other group also revealed signs of rustiness playing two draws.

Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria and Peter Svidler of Russia are leading the league round robin phase with two wins from as many encounters. Topalov played enterprisingly to get there while Svidler pounced on the two Hungarians, Leko and Polgar to jump into the lead. Five more league rounds are to be played before the quarter finalists are spotted.

Earlier on Friday, Anand started with white against Grischuk and entered a rook ending with an advantage. A harmless pawn move on the 36th turn allowed black who had a poorly placed rook to exchange and enter a level pawn ending.

The hero of day one was the Bulgarian Topalov who posted two creditable victories. In the first, he hammered Azmaiparashvili and in the second he sacrificed a rook for bishop and then a knight to threaten pawn promotion and force Adams to resign in the best game of the day.

The results (2nd round):

Group A: Azmaiparashvili drew with Kramnik, Topalov bt Adams, Bareev drew with Gelfand, Bacrot drew with Ponomariov.

Group B: Anand drew with Shirov, Grischuk bt Lautier, Karpov drew with Leko, Svidler bt Polgar.

First round:

Group A: Azmaiparashvili lost to Topalov, Kramnik drew with Bareev, Gelfand drew with Bacrot, Ponomariov drew with Adams.

Group B: Anand drew with Grischuk, Shirov drew with Karpov, Leko lost to Svidler, Polgar bt Lautier.

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