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Eleven original moves and less than two hours' play was all the spectators received for their money on the seventh day of the world championship in New York. By agreeing a draw after 25 moves, Anand and Kasparov equalled the record set by Karpov and Korchnoi in 1978 for consecutive draws at the start of a title match.
The games have not been dull. They have simply tended to stop too early and the spectators are becoming restless. The latest half-game followed game five for 14 moves, when Anand replaced his quiet 15.Qe2 with a more dynamic plan. With 15.Bb6 and 16.e5, he forced exchanges that led to the isolation of Black's d-pawn.
After 21.Qxd3, White appeared set to gain the advantage, but Kasparov solved the problem neatly with 21...Bc5!
After 22.Bxc5 Rxc5, White's a-pawn becomes vulnerable, and if he plays b4 to protect it, then the c-pawn is weak.
Anand captured the pawn with 22.Qxd5, but the subsequent exchange of bishops left him bound to lose back the pawn on b6. Result: a roughly equal position, and, as in all the previous games, when Kasparov offered a draw, Anand was content to accept.
To say that the match has not yet lived up to expectations would be an understatement.
White: V Anand
Black: G Kasparov
1 e4 c5 14 Nf3 Bc6
2 Nf3 d6 15 Bb6 Qb8
3 d4 cxd4 16 e5 dxe5
4 Nxd4 Nf6 17 fxe5 Nd5
5 Nc3 a6 18 Nxd5 exd5
6 Be2 e6 19 Re1 h6
7 0-0 Be7 20 c3 Nxd3
8 a4 Nc6 21 Qxd3 Bc5
9 Be3 0-0 22 Qxd5 Be6
10 f4 Qc7 23 Qd2 Bxb6
11 Kh1 Re8 24 axb6 Rc6
12 Bd3 Nb4 25 Ra4 Rxb6
13 a5 Bd7 Draw agreed.
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