Anand shoots into the sole lead

In a bid to revive his position, Piket initiated unwarranted tactical complications with an exchange sacrifice on the 18th move. The position however remained beyond repair as Anand found a simple rook manoeuvre that claimed Piket’s Queen and the game after 28 moves.

Kramnik applied a rare variation against the Slav Defence of compatriot Evgeny Bareev but could not claim any advantage after the opening despite his white pieces. Tactical complications arose in the middlegame and the pieces got exchanged in a tandem.

The players signed truce after the 21st move in a rook and minor piece endgame.

Leko settled for a draw with Vladimir Akopian of Armenia after just 15 moves. Playing with white pieces, Leko was up against the Rubinstin Variation of the French Defence and routine manoeuvres followed till the 10th move.

Leko’s novelty of posting his light square bishop on favourable long diagonal did not yield any advantage as Akopian sacrificed a pawn on the 14th move to get sufficient counterplay. The end position was not clear.

Grandmaster Robert Huebner of Germany opened his account by holding FIDE World champion Alexander Khalifman of Russia to a draw in a Semi-Slav game with white pieces.

Huebner exchanged pieces at regular intervals to enter a minor piece endgame where the draw was agreed upon after 36 moves.

Adams employed the Exchange Variation of the Ruy Lopez against the computer programme Deep Junior 6 and exchanged the Queens early in the opening. A miniscule advantage was seized by Adams as the game progressed but the computer’s bishop pair guaranteed ample counterplay. The game ended in a draw after 42 moves.

Results: Anand (2.5) bt Piket (0.5); Kramnik (2) drew Bareev (1.5); P Leko (2) drew Akopian (1); Huebner (0.5) drew Khalifman (1); Adams (2) drew Deep Junior 6 (2).

Moves

Anand vs Piket
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 nf6 5. 0-0 B5 6. Bb3 bc5 7. A4 rb8 8. Axb5 axb5 9. C3 D6 10. D4 Bb6 11. Na3 0-0 12. Nxb5 exd413. Cxd4 bg4 14. Ra4 re8 15. Re1 H6 16. Bc2 D5 17. E5 ne4 18. Nc3 rxe5 19. Nxe4 rxe4 20. Bxe4 dxe4 21. D5 Bxf3 22. Gxf3 qh4 23. Rxe4 qxf2+ 24. Kh1 F5 25. Rc4 na5 26. Rf1 nxe4. 27. Rxf2 rxf2 28. Qe2 black resigned.