Moscow, May 12 - Indiaa's Vishvanatan Anand and Israel's Boris Gelfand again drew in the second game of their match for the World chess Crown, which is being played in Moscow's Tretyakov Picture Gallery.
Gelfand's first match against Anand on Friday in the FIDE World Chess Championship also ended in a draw. The draw was considered as a good start for the Israeli contender as he played black, which put him at a disadvantage.
On Saturday, playing with white the second match, Gelfand played an opener that was intended to give him a minor - but stable advantage. According to a computer-generated analysis of the game, Gelfand had played the opening he chose on Saturday twice in the past, winning both times, although both instances were in matches where he was pitted against weaker rivals.
Anand found a way to neutralize Gelfand's initiative, however, and after an exchange of queens it was obvious that the two were headed for a draw.
According to Gelfand, Saturday's draw was achieved from a position of strength, Haaretz reported. Much like Friday's match, there was more of a chance that Gelfand was going to draw, than that he would increase his advantage in the game.
"I am satisfied that I managed to neutralize Gelfand's initiative," Anand told reporters.
A computer-generated analysis of the first match Friday said that Gelfand should not have agreed to a draw, as he could have won were he to continue playing. The Israeli chess master rejected the claim, saying it wasn't likely he could have actually won, mostly because the time was running out.
Gelfand seemed calm. Asked after the game if he was nervous at his first bid for the world championship, he answered, "I heard many stories of 'fear of heights' at an occasion like this. Retroactively, I wouldn't worry."
Anand told the press after the game that he was surprised by his opponent's choice of opening, which Gelfand doesn't use often.
The next round of the tournament will be played Monday.
Anand is the reigning champion, and Gelfand, the challenger. The match will consist of a total of 12 games. The winner will get $1.5 million and the loser $1 million.
