World Chess: Anand arrests slide with a draw

Defending world chess champion Viswanathan Anand and title challenger Magnus Carlsen from Norway decided to split a point at the end of 32 moves in their seventh game of their title match here Monday.

With this draw, Anand has put a stop to the streak of losses he suffered at Carlsen's hands.

Playing white, Anand opened with e4 and Carlsen replied with e5. The game once again progressed Ruy Lopez-Berlin defence.

Once again Anand was not in a position to break the 'Berlin Wall' of defence mounted by Carlsen.

Both the players exchanged their bishops early in their game with Carlsen getting a doubled pawn on the c-file.

Soon both the players went in for flurry of exchanges and at the end of around one-and-half hours of play most of the pieces had gone off the board.

With their queen, knight and five pawns remaining on the board apart from their kings, Anand and Carlsen decided not to press further and signed the peace pact.

According to Anand, the game turned into a slow, maneuvering one.

On his part, Carlsen said he did not face any pressure in the game as his pieces were well developed.

"It seems Anand wanted to put an end to his losing streak and start afresh. After two losses, the draw would give Anand the confidence he much needed," India's second highest rated player Grandmaster P. Harikrishna told IANS.

The FIDE World Chess Championship 2013 is sponsored by Tamil Nadu government. At the end of the seventh game, Carlsen leads with 4.5 points to Anand's 2.5 points.

The first person to score 6.5 points in the 12-game match will be crowned the world champion.

Tuesday, Carlsen will play white.

Game VIII

White: V.Anand, India Black: Magnus Carlsen, Norway

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. Nbd2 Bg4 7. h3 Bh5 8. Nf1 Nd7 9. Ng3 Bxf3 10. Qxf3 g6 11. Be3 Qe7 12. O-O-O O-O-O 13. Ne2 Rhe8 14. Kb1 b6 15. h4 Kb7 16. h5 Bxe3 17. Qxe3 Nc5 18. hxg6 hxg6 19. g3 a5 20. Rh7 Rh8 21. Rdh1 Rxh7 22. Rxh7 Qf6 23. f4 Rh8 24. Rxh8 Qxh8 25. fxe5 Qxe5 26. Qf3 f5 27. exf5 gxf5 28. c3 Ne6 29. Kc2 Ng5 30. Qf2 Ne6 31. Qf3 Ng5 32. Qf2 Ne6 -