Anand sets up final clash with Bareev

Anand, playing black, opted for his favourite Nimzo Indian defence in the second classical game against Gelfand but the Israeli transposed it into a Catalan Opening with some clever manoeuvres.

Gelfand introduced a novelty on the 15th move which landed Anand in an inferior position. By the 20th move, Anand was in deep trouble and was clearly minus in the opinion of many experts.

However, the Indian maintained his cool and with a stunning Queen sacrifice on the 22nd move, he ensured a parity. Gelfand, surprised by Anand’s move, tried to grab the Queenside pawns but that proved counter-productive.

With imaginative play, Anand created a mating web around Gelfand’s King and at one time it looked as though Gelfand would have to return the Queen.

But with no result in sight, the players signed truce after 38 moves.

In the first tie-break game, Anand employed the sharp English attack with white pieces but Gelfand appeared well-prepared and thwarted the Indian’s attempts to go for the kill. The game ended after 34 moves.

Anand once again relied on the Nimzo Indian Defence in the second game and drew after just 17 moves.

The third game saw Anand displaying a perfect defensive strategy. In yet another Nimzo Indian Defence game, he sacrificed a pawn and with the help of two bishops prevented any invasion by the minor pieces and steered the game to a draw after 44 moves.The fourth game — a Bogo Indian Defence with Anand playing white — turned into Anand’s favour soon after the opening. Gelfand fell into a well-fisguised tactical stroke and lost a pawn on the 30th move after forcing some exchanges.

The ensuing rook and bishop versus rook and knight endgame was child’s play for Anand and he completed the formality after41 moves.