Anand holds Adams to a draw

Adams, who beat Peter Svidler in the first round, had black against Anand. In the Ruy Lopez which went into the Marshall attack, the Indian tried for a breakthrough but Adams countered well and the game ended in a draw after 28 moves. Anand introduced a novelty in the game that resembled the Leko-Adams clash in Linares but it went in vain.

If the opening day saw the surprise defeat of Anand at the hands of Judit Polgar, it was the Hungarian star’s turn to be at the receiving end in the second round. She was stunned by veteran Victor Korchnoi, who could not play his first round yesterday as Alexander Morozevich scratched out.

Ironically it was the only decisive game of the day and Korchnoi showed why he is still feared despite being 70 plus. The GM, who played for the Soviet Union before defecting to Switzerland, played white in a game in which Polgar went in for the Grunfeld. The game lasted 43 moves and was the last two finish on the day.

It was a good opening for Korchnoi, who alongwith last minute replacement Boris Gelfand is one round behind the rest of the field.

Kramnik got his second draw this time against Peter Svidler, who has half a point following his first round loss. The game lasted just 23 moves from a Petroff defence.

Topalov and Karpov also had a quick draw in 23 moves as did Miguel Illescas and Boris Gelfand in 22 moves.

The tournament which ends on April 18 has a ten-player field and is a category 19 event.

Results (2nd round):Korchnoi (1/1) bt Polgar (1), Topalov (1) drew with Karpov (1), Illescas (1) drew with Gelfand (0.5/1), Anand (0.5) drew with Adams (1.5), Svidler (0.5) drew with Kramnik (1).