WCC R02: Anand plays 1.d4, game drawn after 32 fighting moves
Vishy Anand surprised his opponent Vladimir Kramnik – and the world – with the move 1.d4 in his first white game of the World Championship in Bonn. The position became complicated and Anand started pressing for a win. However in time trouble the Indian GM decided to accept his Russian opponent's draw offer.
GM Levon Aronian's take on game two
What a wonderful day! Of course we all can pretend that it was an "expected surprise" and that Anand's choice of opening did not make us believe, for one moment, that there is something wrong with the live broadcast. But reality is: Anand has come to Bonn to win, and he is willing to take risks by employing lines he never did before. And he was close to success today.
Kramnik's choice to play Nimzovitsch defence was dictated by simple logic. There was no point for him to play the Slav Defence when Anand has clearly spent ages preparing it before the match, even though for the opposite color. Anand in return answered with a rare and daring line! He played something that would be considered the least likely line to be played in a World Championship match. His intention to confuse his antagonist worked perfectly, as Kramnik, who was trying to avoid an opening trap, tried to come up with new ideas (which is a hard task in such sharp positions), and found himself in an unpleasant endgame. And from that moment on we saw a totally different Kramnik! With brilliant maneuvers he manager to get enough counterplay for a lost pawn, and the position where players agreed to draw seem to be double edged. Of course chess fans around the globe would have liked to see the game continue, but understandably the players did not want to take risks in the time trouble. A very impressive game by two giants, and possibly an invitation for a full contact fight?
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