The Hindu : Sport / Chess : Anand draws with Kasparov

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Friday, Mar 11, 2005

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Sport - Chess

Anand draws with Kasparov

LINARES, MARCH 10. After a quick 22-move draw with Viswanathan Anand, World No. 1 Garry Kasparov needs to just remain undefeated against Veselin Topalov to claim the City of Linares chess title here.

In the 13th and penultimate round, Topalov foiled Francisco Pons Vallejo's plans of forcing a draw and coasted to his second successive victory. The result saw Topalov push Anand to the third spot.

The Bulgarian plays white against Kasparov on the final day and has to win to tie for the crown.

Anand, playing black, opted for Petroff Defence against Kasparov and drew in the first hour itself. The draw left Kasparov leading the field with eight points and raised Anand's tally to 6.5.

After the two strongest players in the world signed peace, third seed Topalov turned down a draw offer from Vallejo on the 16th move and worked his way to victory in 38 moves of Queen's Gambit Declined variation.

Run of draws

Earlier, Hungary's Peter Leko maintained his all-draw record in the tournament following an equal battle with World champion Rustam Kasimdzhanov in their Sicilian Rossolimo game lasting just 24 moves.

The Uzbek, who now has a free day, ended his maiden campaign in the premier competition with four points from 12 outings.

The results (13th round): Garry Kasparov (Rus) (8/11) drew with Viswanathan Anand (6.5/11); Rustam Kasimdzhanov (Uzb) (4/12) drew with Peter Leko (Hun) (5.5/11); Francisco Pons Vallejo (Esp) (3.5/11) lost to Veselin Topalov (Bul) (7/11); Free day: Michael Adams (Eng) (4.5/11).

14th round pairings: Topalov-Kasparov; Anand-Adams; Leko-Vallejo; Free day: Kasimdzhanov.

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