Anand, Kramnik tied 1-1 after two games in world chess

Championships, the clash between two of the finest players of our time, defending champion Viswanathan Anand and Vladimir Kramnik, has begun to look very interesting, with the duo tied at 1-1 after two games. After a dry and dull opening game, the second, despite being a draw showed enough spark to whet the appetite for the fans in the 12-game championships.

NIIT-Brand ambassador Anand, pitted against Kramnik, whose preparation for this match includes a clash with computer, Deep Fritz, were engaged in contrasting first two games.

In the first, Kramnik with white was held to a tame draw by Anand but in the second the Indian surprised everyone by opening with the Queen’s Pawn when the King’s Pawn, his routine choice, had been expected by all.

Kramnik responded with the Nimzo-Indian and Anand took his opponent into some sharp lines but his plan was kept at bay as the Russian took the game into quieter positions.

Kramnik was quite successful in warding off all dangers and then attempted to take the initiative on move 16. But Anand forced the Russian to sacrifice a pawn in order to prevent the white bishops becoming active.

Kramnik fixed his pawn structure and then his knight was the best piece on the board.

Anand did not make progress but avoided a repetition of moves and shortly after, with his time running out for the Indian - he had less than Kramnik - the Indian star accepted Kramnik’s draw offer.

Kramnik plays white in Friday’s third game.

The match is being staged by Universal Event Promotion at the Art and Exhibition Hall of Germany in Bonn and match sponsors Evonik Industries have put up a 1.5 million Euro prize fund, which will be split irrespective of the result.