Sofia:
Viswanathan Anand brought his title defence back on track after humbling local star Veselin Topalov in the second game of the World Chess Championship in Sofia, Bulgaria. The scores are now tied 1-1 in the 12-game match series.
Topalov had taken the lead yesterday after pocketing the opening game.
"I am happy with my play and I thought that I played fairly accurately," Anand, who won after 41 moves, said after the game.
The win means that Anand can go into tomorrow's rest day without worrying much.
After the rapid flurry of moves yesterday in the opening stages, both players were on the slower side today.
Topalov looked better in the Opening stages but Anand played a patient game. Anand sacrificed a pawn in the Opening and Topalov's pieces appeared to have greater mobility.
The early exchange of queens on the 15th move was a bit surprising since it was at Anands invitation and he was a pawn down.
The Indian made a few unexpected moves and slowly improved his position. The 25th move of Topalov to get into Anand's territory to exchange a knight for a bishop was dubious and the Indian started looking better.
Anand spent too much time on the 29th turn and had just 19 minutes to Topalov's 38 minutes to complete the stipulated 40 moves before the first time control.
Topalov's 29th move was either unnecessary aggression or desperation in trying to exchange at least one rook as Anands position had starter looking better and better.
The Moves:
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 dxc4 5.Bg2 a6 6.Ne5 c5 7.Na3 cxd4 8.Naxc4 Bc5 9.00 00 10.Bd2 Nd5 11.Rc1 Nd7 12.Nd3 Ba7 13.Ba5 Qe7 14.Qb3 Rb8 15.Qa3 Qxa3 16.bxa3 N7f6 17.Nce5 Re8 18.Rc2 b6 19.Bd2 Bb7 20.Rfc1 Rbd8 21.f4 Bb8 22.a4 a5 23.Nc6 Bxc6 24.Rxc6 h5 25.R1c4 Ne3 26.Bxe3 dxe3 27.Bf3 g6 28.Rxb6 Ba7 29.Rb3 Rd4 30.Rc7 Bb8 31.Rc5 Bd6 32.Rxa5 Rc8 33.Kg2 Rc2 34.a3 Ra2 35.Nb4 Bxb4 36.axb4 Nd5 37.b5 Rdxa4 38.Rxa4 Rxa4 39.Bxd5 exd5 40.b6 Ra8 41.b7 Rb8 42.Kf3 d4 43.Ke4 1-0.
Topalov had taken the lead yesterday after pocketing the opening game.
"I am happy with my play and I thought that I played fairly accurately," Anand, who won after 41 moves, said after the game.
The win means that Anand can go into tomorrow's rest day without worrying much.
After the rapid flurry of moves yesterday in the opening stages, both players were on the slower side today.
Topalov looked better in the Opening stages but Anand played a patient game. Anand sacrificed a pawn in the Opening and Topalov's pieces appeared to have greater mobility.
The early exchange of queens on the 15th move was a bit surprising since it was at Anands invitation and he was a pawn down.
The Indian made a few unexpected moves and slowly improved his position. The 25th move of Topalov to get into Anand's territory to exchange a knight for a bishop was dubious and the Indian started looking better.
Anand spent too much time on the 29th turn and had just 19 minutes to Topalov's 38 minutes to complete the stipulated 40 moves before the first time control.
Topalov's 29th move was either unnecessary aggression or desperation in trying to exchange at least one rook as Anands position had starter looking better and better.
The Moves:
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 dxc4 5.Bg2 a6 6.Ne5 c5 7.Na3 cxd4 8.Naxc4 Bc5 9.00 00 10.Bd2 Nd5 11.Rc1 Nd7 12.Nd3 Ba7 13.Ba5 Qe7 14.Qb3 Rb8 15.Qa3 Qxa3 16.bxa3 N7f6 17.Nce5 Re8 18.Rc2 b6 19.Bd2 Bb7 20.Rfc1 Rbd8 21.f4 Bb8 22.a4 a5 23.Nc6 Bxc6 24.Rxc6 h5 25.R1c4 Ne3 26.Bxe3 dxe3 27.Bf3 g6 28.Rxb6 Ba7 29.Rb3 Rd4 30.Rc7 Bb8 31.Rc5 Bd6 32.Rxa5 Rc8 33.Kg2 Rc2 34.a3 Ra2 35.Nb4 Bxb4 36.axb4 Nd5 37.b5 Rdxa4 38.Rxa4 Rxa4 39.Bxd5 exd5 40.b6 Ra8 41.b7 Rb8 42.Kf3 d4 43.Ke4 1-0.
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
