Kramnik triumphs, Anand runner-up

DORTMUND, July 14: Twenty-two year old Russian Grandmaster Vladimir Kramnik (6.5) justified his top billing by winning the Silver Jubilee I...

DORTMUND, July 14: Twenty-two year old Russian Grandmaster Vladimir Kramnik (6.5) justified his top billing by winning the Silver Jubilee International Chess Tournament held at Dortmund Opera House. Kramnik remained the only unbeaten player in this nine round `all play all’ competition.

Second-seeded Indian Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand (5.5) finished second, after drawing his last round game with World champion Anatoly Karpov.

Kramnik, opted for sharp Pelikan variation of the Sicilian defence against Short but refrained from repeating his game with Anand. In their attempts to checkmate the rival kings, most of

the pieces got exchanged and the players agreed to split the point after 26 moves.

Story continues below this ad

Anand played an enterprising game against Karpov’s uncharacteristic attacking game today. Anand was forced to defend passively.

White: Karpov ; Black: Anand: 1.D4 D5, 2.C4 dxc4, 3.E4 E5, 4.Nf3 exd4, 5.Bxc4 nc6, 6.0-0 be6, 7.Bxe6 fxe6, 8. Qb3 qd7, 9. Qxb7 rb8, 10.Qa6 nf6, 11. Nbd2 bb4, 12 nv4 0-0, 13. A3 bc5, 14.B4 bb6, 15. B5 ne7, 16. Nfe5 qe8, 17.A4 nxe4, 18. Ba3 nd5, 19. Bxf8 kxf8, 20.Nd3 nd6, 21.Nxd6 cxd6, 22.Racl qd8, 23. A5 bxa 5, 24.Qxa7 bc3, 25. Qa2 rxb5, 26.Qe2 qe8, 27.Rb1 E5, 28. Rxb5 qxb5, 29. F4 ne3, 30. Fxe5 nxf1, 31.Qxf1 ke7, 32.Exd6, draw agreed.