World number one Viswanathan Anand made another move towards regaining the world title after getting an easy draw with Russian Peter Svidler in the 12th round of the World Championship.
As many as three out of the four games played ended decisively.
Anand went for the fashionable Marshall and Svidler declined the gambit in the Ruy Lopez. There was not much left to do for either player once a few pieces and pawns changed hands in the middle game and the draw was agreed to in just 22 moves.
Anand was content with half a point as it strengthened his chances for the title. In the remaining two games now, the Indian ace has white pieces against Peter Leko of Hungary and black against Russian Alexander Grischuk and it seems there is no stopping Anand even though the gap was bridged a little by Boris Gelfand of Israel.
While Gelfand won against Levon Aronian of Armenia, it was the late onslaught by Russian Vladimir Kramnik that caught the eye. With clinical precision, he defeated Leko in a finely crafted game. In the other game of the day, Alexander Morozevich pushed Gris-chuk to joint last place.
Anand, with eight points, has a full-point lead over Gelfand, who has to meet Kramnik and Morozevich. Kramnik took third position on his own on 6.5 points while Leko, Morozevich and Aronian now share the fifth spot on 5.5 points. Peter Svidler is next in line on 5 points alongside Grischuk.
Gelfand won with black to keep his theoretical chances of catching Anand alice. The Israeli started with the Slav defense and it was the Moscow variation that helped him win.
Results (round 12): Peter Svidler (Rus, 5) drew with Viswanathan Anand (Ind, 8); Vladimir Kramnik (Rus, 6.5) bt Peter Leko (Hun, 5.5); Levon Aronian (Arm, 5.5) lt to Boris Gelfand (Isr, 7); Alexander Morozevich (Rus, 5.5) bt Alexander Grischuk (Rus, 5)
The moves, Svidler vs Anand: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3 Bb7 9. d3 Re8 10. a4 h6 11. axb5 axb5 12. Rxa8 Bxa8 13. c3 Bf8 14. d4 d6 15. d5 Na5 16. Ba2 c6 17. Na3 Qc7 18. Qe2 cxd5 19. Nxb5 Qd7 20. exd5 Bxd5 21. Bxd5 Nxd5 22. Rd1 Nf6 1/2-1/2.
