London: ‘The art of self defence” is an integral part of any chess games and it is the tough people who thrive and come out unscathed under the most tiring of circumstances. World Champion and NIIT Mind Champion Viswanathan Anand held on to his nerves and his game to wriggle out of what most called an inferior position against David Howell in the third round of the London Chess Classic 2011 at the Olympia Media Centre on late Monday night.
Magnus Carlsen the highest ranked player in fray defeated Hikaru Nakamura in a scintillating game to emerge joint leader with 7 points. In an all English affair, Michael Adams played disastrously to lose out to Luke McShane while Levon Aronian scored over Nigel Short in this 9 player Round Robin event. Vladimir Kramnik had a bye and assisted the commentary team.
McShane is in second place with 5 points, Aronian, Kramnik and Nakamura are next with four points each. Anand , Adams and Howell have logged two points each while Short is yet to open his account. Three points are awarded for a victory and one for a draw in this Category 20 event.
Anand has a vast Opening repertoire and one always wonders whether the NIIT Mind Champion would open with the King Pawn or the Queen Pawn as he is comfortable with both. Anand however stuck to the Queen Pawn opening which he has been employing it with regularity since his World Championship Match against Kramnik in 2008.
Howell opted for the Slav defence and the game went more or less along equal lines till Anand made it interesting with a sacrifice on the 15th turn. Howell however nullified the attack but Anand erred on the 29th turn, opening up promising continuations for his opponent.
Howell however missed way and during the first time control of 40 moves, the game appeared heading for a draw. Peace was signed on the 65th turn by repetition of moves when the players were left with a queen and two pawns each.
Round three
Round 3: Monday, December 5, 2011
Levon Aronian1-0Nigel Short
Magnus Carlsen1-0Hikaru Nakamura
Michael Adams0-1Luke McShane
Vishy Anand½ ½David Howell
Vladimir Kramnik (bye) – assisting commentary
