Anand runs through Khalifman; easy win for Kasparov, Karpov

World’s highest rated player Gary Kasparov of Russia had no trouble in tackling a rather adventurous GM Judith Polgar of Hungary as he stormed past her 2-0 in the rapid games itself while Bosnian GM Ivan Sokolov did another David vs Goliath act to beat highly regarded GM Michael Adams of England.

The rest of the results in the pre-quarters were on expected lines.

Be it the open or the closed, the Ruy Lopez opening has served Anand exceedingly well ever since his foray in elite chess circles. And it did not disappoint him yesterday too.

Khalifman churned and burned under masterly manoeuvres all through the first game. It was a costly oversight by the Russian that spelt doom for him on the 17th move. Anand quickly seized the opportunity with a temporary piece sacrifice and just a few moves later, was an exchange up.

Later the Indian stalwart thwarted the counter measures of Khalifman in an exemplary fashion. A quick dash in the centre was followed by an invasion into the queenside after the trade of queens and the game was up, up and away from Khalifman’s reach. He resigned on the 37th move.

In the return game, Khalifman went all out for the kill but could not really match the defensive acumen of Anand. The opening featured established manoeuvres of a queen’s Indian Defence where Anand, playing black, equalised comfortably.

Knowing well that solid play will not get him anywhere, Khalifman threw caution to the winds and sacrificed a piece early in the middlegame to launch an offence against the king. However, the attack turned out to be illusionary as Anand brought his pieces to control vital squares around his king.