Anand beats Morozevich, other games drawn
Results
Anand – Morozevich 1-0 live commentary by IM Karakehayov
Leko – Aronian ½-½
Gelfand – Svidler ½-½ live commentary by IM Karakehayov
Grischuk – Kramnik ½-½
Highlights
Vishwanatan Anand extended his lead at the World Chess Championship after defeating Alexander Morozevich in the 11th round, while his main competitors Kramnik and Gelfand assented to quick draws. In the barely second Sicilian defence appearing at the tournament, Anand opted for the English attack as expected. On move 19 he played novelty and in the course of exchanges, both players were left with some pawn weaknesses. Anand’s knight was dominating Morozevich’s bishop, but there were still heavy pieces on the board, making black’s counterplay more dangerous. With the subtle Nc1-a3-Na2-Nb4, Anand started collecting queenside pawns, while Moro advanced his passed h-pawn. After the wonderful final combination, where knight fork allowed forced pawn promotion, Morozevich gave up on resistance.
Alexander Morozevich and Vishwanatan Anand
Peter Leko started with 1.d4, silently acknowledging that he has no solution for Aronian’s Marshall attack. The game took the course of Leko-Kramnik, Corus 2005, where Hungarian introduced stunning novelty 12. Qb4. Levon Aronian was well prepared and improved Kramnik’s play with 20…Rc8. Nevertheless, Leko kept the certain pressure and tried to play for a win, but black’s accurate defence forced him to agree on draw in the rook endgame.
Boris Gelfand – Peter Svidler and Alexander Grischuk – Vladimir Kramnik are barely worth of mention as both were quickly drawn. It is disappointing to see that neither Gelfand or Kramnik are trying to catch with Vishy Anand. And while Kramnik has guaranteed rematch clause, it is hard to explain Gelfand’s sudden ambition fallout.
World Chess Championship index
| N | Name | FED | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kramnik | RUS | ** | 1 0 | ½½ | ½½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½½ | 5½ |
| 2 | Morozevich | RUS | 0 1 | ** | ½ 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ ½ | 1 ½ | 4½ |
| 3 | Anand | IND | ½ ½ | ½ 1 | ** | 1 | ½ | ½ ½ | 1½ | 1 | 7½ |
| 4 | Grischuk | RUS | ½½ | 1 | 0 | ** | ½ 0 | ½ 1 | ½ 0 | ½ | 5 |
| 5 | Leko | HUN | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½1 | ** | ½½ | 0 ½ | ½½ | 5½ |
| 6 | Gelfand | ISR | ½ | 1 | ½½ | ½ 0 | ½½ | ** | 1 | ½½ | 6 |
| 7 | Aronian | ARM | ½ | ½½ | 0 ½ | ½ 1 | 1 ½ | 0 | ** | ½ | 5½ |
| 8 | Svidler | RUS | ½½ | 0 ½ | 0 | ½ | ½½ | ½½ | ½ | ** | 4½ |
