LONDON, Dec 14:
Former world champion Viswanathan Anand settled for his fourth draw in the London Chess Classic and almost went out of title race at the Olympia here today.
The white pieces against Anish Giri of Holland did not come good for the Indian as the latter equalised leaving the Indian on four points with just one more round to come in the Classic.
Hikaru Nakamura of United States enthused some life in the tournament defeating Michael Adams of England from what was perceived a drawn endgame.
In the other game of the day, Vladimir Kramnik could do little with his white pieces and split the point with Fabiano Caruana of Italy.
With just one round remaining in the six-player round-robin tournament, Giri and Kramnik still share the lead on six points under the soccer-scoring system that gives three points for a win and one for a draw.
The two leaders are now pursued by Nakamura on five points while Anand on four. The Indian shares the fourth spot along with Adams. Caruana with his third draw in four games, is at the bottom of the tables with three points – an unfamiliar situation for the world number two.
Anand faced the Queen’s gambit declined from Giri who seemed well-armed again with his opening. The Vienna set up by the Dutch Grandmaster saw Anand sacrifice a pawn early in the opening but the position only remained close to equal as the game progressed.
With his new coach Vladimir Tukmakov, Giri seemed at home even in the complexities that ensued as the game progressed. (AGENCIES)
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