Anand making rapid strides

After holding Ivanchuk with black in the first blitz game Anand was at his tactical best in the second game.

He employed one of the popular variations in the Sicilian classical and gained control of the light squares with excellent manoeuvering of his bishop.

The rook and minor pieces endgame arrived soon but Ivanchuk had few problems on his queenside with his weakened pawns. He Ukranian allowed Anand a passed pawn who won a peice on the 53rd move. Ivanchuk struggled for survival in the next 10 moves before giving up.

In the first blitz game, which was a queens gambit accepted, Anand deployed his pieces effectively and went for a series of exchanges that ensured a level position. After trading the queens on the 30th move the draw was agreed four moves later.

Earlier in the first rapid game, Anand played white and faced some difficulties in the Sicilian Rossolimo attack. He had not quite forgotten the defeat in Moscow with favourable colours. Anand thereafter calculated better and had no trouble in getting the draw after 50 moves through perpetual checks in the rook and pawns endgame. The second game was a Queens Gambit Accepted by Anand with black pieces and Ivanchuk could not get any advantage in the middle game as pieces disappeared from the board in tandem giving Anand an easy equality. The draw was agreed to in 27 moves.

Against Shirov, Karpov was in top form. The Russian too won his battle in the blitz games with a comprehensive 2-0 victory after both the rapid games ended in draws.

In the first rapid game which lasted 65 moves, it was another Queens Gambit Accepted where Shirov equalised easily in the middle game. Karpov had to use all his defensive acumen to draw the game in the knights and pawns endgame.

The next game was another draw in a Petroff Defence after 66 moves and Karpov drew first blood in the blitz with excellent attacking moves in the same opening. Shirov resigned after he was caught in a mating in 40 moves.