Anand and Gelfand split point as Game 9 ends in a draw

Moscow: There was no decisive result but plenty of fighting chess before reigning World Champion Viswanathan Anand drew against Challenger Boris Gelfand in the ninth round of the World Chess championship which continued after a day’s rest at the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow.

If in the 8th game, Anand had given a demonstration of his tactical ability then today his defensive skill was in full display as he battled dourly to force a draw after 49 hard fought moves, in an engrossing battle.

After nine games the 12 Game Match is evenly and excitingly poised with 4.5-4.5 score. Tomorrow in the 10th round, Anand will wield Whites.

Anand has a vast opening repertoire and keeps his opponent guessing on his choice in every game. Today he opted for the Nimzo Indian defence. As if to make up for the shock value of the last two rounds, the players followed the safe and solid main line till Anand played a novelty on the 16th move.

Gelfand appeared to hold edge after the transposition to the middle-game but the NIIT MindChampion opted for active defence by giving up his queen for a rook, knight and a pawn.

In the ending Anand had a rook, knight and five pawns as against Gelfand’s queen and four pawns.

For the first time in this Match, the players crossed the 40 move mark, which is the stipulation for the first time control where each player has two hours on his clock.

Anand appeared calm and confident and his body language communicated that he had worked out the draw with a position in mind and it was just a matter of checking and rechecking on the board.

Gelfand on the other stayed hunched on the board after completing the 40 moves and tried hard to find a winning continuation. However Anand’s King, knight and rook stayed connected and Gelfand’s queen could not battle alone.