Mumbai, Jan 29: Garry Kasparov of Russia successfully defended his title at the Corus Super Grandmasters chess tournament after holding compatriot Vladimir Kramnik to a draw in the twelfth round at Wijk Aan Zee, The Netherlands, on Saturday, according to information available here. The draw took Kasparov's tally to 8.5, a point adrift of second-placed Kramnik and Peter Leko of Hungary. Regardless of the results in the 13th and final round on Sunday, Kasparov is assured of the title.India's Viswanathan Anand, playing black, drew Jeroen Piket of The Netherlands after 17 moves to take his tally to 7. Anand stayed at fourth place. Kramnik was a pawn up over Kasparov after 34 moves, but Kasparov drew level in the endgame to retain his point. In the only other completed game, Leko of Hungary (7.5) held on to joint second place after splitting a point with Loek Van Wely.On Friday, Anand drew against Nigel Short of England. Anand employed the Petroff Defence to counter the King-Pawn Opening by Short but wassurprised to see his opponent going on the defensive.Short desisted from making the main variations and instead exchanged queens on the seventh move much to the dismay of Anand and chess enthusiasts.With Short more interested in a draw, Anand could do nothing except make the correct `drawing' moves and signed the peace treaty after the 23rd move.Three players scored wins in the 11th round - Judit Polgar over Jeroen Piket, Alexander Morozevich over Smpat Lputian of Armenia and Michael Adams over Jan Timman.Results (12th round): J Piket (Ned, 6.5) drew V Anand (Ind, 7); P Leko (Hun, 7.5) drew L Van Wely (3.5); V Kramnik (Rus, 7.5) drew G Kasparov (Rus, 8.5).Matches in progress: S Lputian (4) vs N Short (4.5); P Nikolic (5) vs M Adams (6.5); J Polgar (4.5) vs V Korchnoi (3.5); J Timman (5) vs A Morozevich (6.5).MOVESPiket vs Anand1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 e6 7. f3 Bb4 8. e4 Bxe4 9. fxe4 Nxe4 10. Bd2 Qxd4 11. Nxe4 Qxe4 12. Qe2Bxd2 13. Kxd2 Qd5 14. Kc2 Na6 15. Nxc4 O-O 16. Qe5 Rab8 17. Rd1 Nb4 0.5-0.5.
