Anand Needs A Draw To Regain World Chess Title

By Arvind Aaron

World No.1 Viswanathan Anand is half a point away from winning the World Chess title for the second time. He was champion from December 2000 when he won it at Tehran until he lost it at Moscow in December 2001.

In the 8-player, double all-play-all tournament, Anand is leading with 8.5 points from 13 rounds and is leading by one full point. He will probably make the quick draw against Peter Leko of Hungary with the white pieces on Saturday and assure himself of the title. In such a case, Anand will reach nine points. Boris Gelfand of Israel who is on 7.5 points will not be able to catch him with only one game on hand. This event is happening at Mexico City at the Sheraton Historico.

Round 13 also signalled the loss of the world title for defending champion Vladimir Kramnik of Russia. He is in third place on seven points and has lost his crown. He wrested the World Title from Garry Kasparov in 2000 by defeating him in a match at London.

However, Kramnik will have a rematch against the winner of this event in 2008. Insiders say that Anand v Kramnik should happen at Bonn in Germany next year

Anand had to walk a tight rope to draw his 13th round encounter against Grischuk. In a rook ending, the Chennai-born played superb chess in defence to produce a 74-move draw with the black pieces. In classic content, this game perhaps equalled the stalemate draw he produced against Kramnik in the first half of the event.

India's second biggest moment of glory in chess is about to happen at 1 a.m. on September 30 which will be about half past two Mexico City time on September 29. Await the formality though and follow the last round at http://partidas/chessmexico.com at 12.30 midnight on Saturday/Sunday.

The results (round 13): Boris Gelfand (Isr) drew Vladimir Kramnik, Peter Leko (Hun) bt Alexander Morozevich (Rus), Levon Aronian (Arm) drew Peter Svidler (Rus), Alexander Grischuk (Rus) drew Viswanathan Anand (Ind).

Standings after round 13: 1 Anand 8.5/13, 2 Gelfand 7.5, 3 Kramnik 7, 4 Leko 6.5, 5 Aronian 6, 6-8 Grischuk, Morozevich, Svidler 5.5 each.

Pairing for round 14: Anand v Leko, Kramnik v Aronian, Morozevich v Gelfand, Svidler v Grischuk.