KOCHI, January 3: Viswanathan Anand of India lost the first game to Anatoly Karpov of Russia in six-game Fide World Chess Championship match at Lausanne yesterday, according to reports reaching here.
For a good portion of the match, the Indian GM was fighting with his back to the wall, trying to save the game that seemed lost from the middle game. Despite Anand’s dogged defence, Karpov knew he had a chance to establish early supremacy in the match and was still trying to go for a win, which the Indian GM was unwilling to give. Finally, Karpov, despite keeping one eye on the clock and one eye on the board, managed to get the Indian accept the inevitable.
The Russian wiped off Anand’s last pawn and promoted his pawns on either flank. In the end, Anand’s Queen, pegged to the eighth rank stopping one of the pawns, watched helplessly as the rooks combined to produce a decisive combination.
Karpov shelves Caro-Kann: Karpov made his intentions known in Game Two when he offered Anand the option of going in for the Ruy Lopez opening, completely shelving his favourite Caro-Kann Defence. Karpov expanded on the Queenside and pushed his pawns with the help of his bishop and knight. Then he came up with a surprise by sacrificing an exchange on move 19 for a pawn.
It was a completely new Karpov who came for this championship.
Though he lost to Adainto of Indonesia in a practice match just before this event, it was evident the defending champion was in a mood to play in his opponent’s territory by resorting to attacking chess.
Anand-Karpov (Game 2)
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Bc5 6.c3 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.a4 Bg4 9.d3 0-0 10.h3 Bxf3 11.Qxf3 Na5 12.Bc2 b4 13.Nb2 Rb8 14.Qe2 Re8 15.Nf3 bxc3 16.bxc3 Nb3 17.Bxb3 Rxb3 18.d4 exd4 19.cxd4 Rxf3 20.Qxf3 Bxd4 21.Ra2 Nxe4 22.Qd3 c5 23.Qxa6 d5 24.a5 c4
(game continues)
GAME ONE
1.d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 Bb7 9. O-O a6 10. e4 c5 11. d5 Qc7 12. dxe6 fxe6 13. Bc2 c4 14. Qe2 Bd6 15. Nd4 Nc5 16. f4 e5 17. Ndxb5 axb5 18. Nxb5 Qb6 19. Nxd6 Qxd6 20. fxe5 Qxe5 21. Rf5 Qe7 22. Qxc4 Rc8 23. Qb5 Ncd7 24. Qxb7 Rxc2 25. Bg5 Qd6 26. Qa8 Kf7 27. Qxh8 Qd4 28. Kh1 Qxe4 29. Rf3 Rxg2 30. Kxg2 Ne5 31. Qxg7 Kxg7 32. Bxf6 Kg6 33. Bxe5 Qxe5 34. Rg1 h5 35. b3 Qe2 36. Rf2 Qe4 37. Kf1 Kh6 38. Rg3 Qb1 39. Kg2 Qe4 40. Rgf3 Qg6 41. Kf1 Qb1 42. Kg2 Qg6 43. Kh1 Qb1 44. Rf1 Qxa2 45. Rf6 Kg7 46. Rf7 Kh8 47. Rf8 Kg7 48. R8f7 Kg8 49. R7f3 Kg7 50. h3 Qc2 51. R1f2 Qe4 52. Kg2 Qb4 53. Re2 Qd4 54. Re7 Kg6 55. Re6 Kg7 56. Rg3 Kf7 57. Rge3 Qd5 58. Kg3 Qg5 59. Kf2 Qh4 60. Ke2 Qd4 61. R6e4 Qa1 62. Kd3 Kf6 63. Re6 Kf5 64. b4 Qc1 65. Kd4 Qc8 66. b5 Qd8 67. Kc5 Qc7 68. Kb4 Qf4 69. Kb3 Qc7 70. b6 Qd7 71. R3e5 Kf4 72. Re4 Kg3 73. Re3 Kh2 74. Kc4 h4 75. Kc5 Qc8 76. Kd5 Qd8 77. Ke4 Qd7 78. Kf5 Kg2 79. Kg5 Qg7 80. Kxh4 Kf2 81. R3e5 Qh8 82. Kg4 Qg7 83. Kf5 Qh7 84. Kf6 Qh4 85. Kf7 Qh7 86. Ke8 Qb7 87. h4 Qb8 88. Kf7 Qb7 89. Kg6 Qb8 90. h5 Qg8 91. Kf5 Qh7 92. Kf6 Kf3 93. Re3 Kf2 94. Re2 Kf3 95. R2e3 Kf2 96. Kg5 Qg8 97. Kh4 Qd8 98. Kh3 Qd1 99. Re2 Kf3 100. Kh2 Qd8 101. R6e3 Kf4 102. b7 Qb6 103. Re4 Kf3 104. R2e3 Kf2 105. Re7 Qd6 106. Kh3 Qb8 107. R3e5 Kg1 108. Rg7 1-0