London: Good aggressive chess with hours spent on the clock and many moves made on the chequered board however could only fetch a draw for World Champion Viswanathan Anand.
In fact the third round of the London Chess Classic 2012 witnessed three draws and just one decisive result. However all the draws were hard fought affairs and a treat for the paying spectators at the Olympia Centre.
Pitted against the World number two, Levon Aronian, Anand wrested the initiative in the Opening stages and enjoyed a pawn advantage throughout the game.
Though the position looked good for Anand, it was complicated and later the NIIT MindChampion admitted that he did not think that he missed anything during the game.
The other big encounter between Magnus Carlsen and Vladimir Kramnik also ended with the honours shared after Carlsen defended superbly in a difficult looking position. Carlsen had misplayed the opening and was struggling throughout the game to survive.
Michael Adams brought some cheer to the home crowd by scoring his second straight victory, defeating Judit Polgar. Hikaru Nakamura also toiled, huffed and puffed in search of victory but also reached a deadlock against local player Gawain Jones.
Anand opted for the Slav defence and an out of form Aronian who had lost both his previous games, also mishandled the opening.
After the exchange of a few pieces, Anand refrained from grabbing a pawn in a forced looking sequence which many experts felt would have probably given him the best chance for victory.
Aronian managed to force the exchange of pieces and the resultant rook and pawn ending was also played out by the players till literally the last pieces left on the board were the two Kings and a rook each on the 51st turn.
Results of Round 3; Levon Aronian (1) drew Viswanathan Anand (2); Vladimir Kramnik (7) drewagainst Magnus Carlsen (7); Michael Adams (4) bt Judit Polgar (1); Gawain Jones (2) drew against Hikaru Nakamura (4); Luke McShane (1)-Bye
PAIRINGS OF ROUND 4; Viswanathan Anand Vs Vladimir Kramnik; Hikaru Nakamura Vs Michael Adams ; Magnus Carlsen Vs Gawain Jones; Luke McShane Vs Levon Aronian; Judit Polgar -Bye
By Indian sports News Network
