5/12/2012 – Although the second game failed to develop the tension that might have led to a decisive victory, it did answer an important question: what did Anand have planned as his main black weapon? Against Topalov it had been the Grünfeld, then the stultified Catalan. This time the Semi-Slav was chosen, though it developed into a calm position that ended in a draw. Express report with GM commentary.
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The World Chess Championship 2012 is being staged in the Tretyakov Gallery
in Moscow, between the current World Champion Viswanathan Anand of India and
the winner of the Candidates tournament Boris Gelfand of Israel. The match is
over twelve games and lasts from May 11 to 30. The prize fund is US $2.55 million,
the winner getting $1.53 million (60%), the loser $1,02 million (40%).
Round
two: Anand shows his hand with Semi-Slav
Press Release by Team Anand at NIIT
The reigning World Chess Champion, Viswanathan Anand demonstrated his defensive
skills precisely and perfectly to draw against Challenger Boris Gelfand in the
second game of the World Chess Championship at the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow
on Saturday night. Anand, the NIIT MindChampion was delightful in his defence
with the dark pieces, often making unexpected moves as against the ones suggested
by the experts and the chess engines following the game. The pieces and the
position however appeared harmonious and Anand hardly appeared in trouble in
the Anti-Meran game which lasted 25 moves.
Boris Gelfand at the start of game two of the World Championship
Anand later commenting on the ending position explained: "White did have
a slight edge initially but in the end there were many defensive structures
for Black.” Gelfand admitted: “I offered the draw as there was no
option left. I could not get the slightest idea to mobilize the pieces.”
Cool with a Semi-Slav: World Champion Viswanathan Anand
In the initial stages, it appeared that Gelfand had a slight edge but Anand
soon neutralized it by some quick exchange of pieces, including the queens.
As expected there were no initial surprises by Gelfand as he stuck to his usual
Queen Pawn Opening, while Anand opted for the Slav. He had stuck to the Grunfeld
disastrously and then the Catalan against Veselin Topalov at the last World
Championship at Sofia in 2010.
It was Anand who uncorked a novelty on the 14th turn with a knight move which
left Gelfand thinking. However once the pawns and the pieces were cleared from
the centre, there was not much play left.
Game two express analysis by GM Romain Edouard
Game two express analysis by IM Malcolm Pein
Ananlysis of game two by GM Daniel King on Playchess
Video stream of round two (from the official World
Championship site)
Once again the Russian organisers are providing unprecedented
coverage,
with a HD video stream of the action and commentary by visiting grandmasters.
Scoreboard
Players
Rtng
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Tot.
Perf.
+/–
Vishy Anand
2791
½
½
1.0
2727
Boris Gelfand
2727
½
½
1.0
2791
Schedule
Days of play, with live commentators on Playchess.com.
Note that the games start at 15:00h local time = 13:00 CEST, 07 a.m. New York
or here
in your location.
The games are being broadcast live on the official web site and on the
chess server Playchess.com.
If you are not a member you can download a free Playchess client there
and get immediate access. You can also use ChessBase
11 or any of our Fritz
compatible chess programs.
Opening videos: Sipke Ernst brings the Ulvestad Variation up to date + Part II of ‘Mikhalchishin's Miniatures’. Special: Jan Werle shows highlights from the FIDE Grand Swiss 2025 in the video. ‘Lucky bag’ with 40 analyses by Ganguly, Illingworth et al.
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