Anand and Carlsen Draw Second Game in World Chess Championship Defense

Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen Battle to a Draw in World Chess Championship

In a cautious and strategic match-up, Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen settled for a draw in the second game of the World Chess Championship in Chennai. With the scores tied at 1-1, both players are now heading into the first rest day of the 20-day championship.

Anand, the world chess champion, played white in the second game and expressed mild surprise at Carlsen’s opening moves. Sensing that his opponent was well-prepared, Anand chose to avoid complications and settle for a safer path, leading to a quick draw in just 25 moves.

Carlsen, the highest-rated chess player in the world and the favorite to win the championship, was not satisfied with the easy draw and expressed disappointment at the lack of promising options in the game. Both players described the first two games as a process of “settling in” and emphasized the long nature of the match.

The quick draws in the first two games have slightly improved Anand’s chances of defending his title, according to British bookmakers. The first player to score 6.5 points will claim the title, with a win yielding a point and a draw half a point.

While spectators may have been expecting more excitement from the match, the players and their teams are taking a cautious approach, with Anand’s seconds assisting him at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Chennai. Carlsen, accompanied by his family and team, is also focused on the long-term strategy for the championship.

After the draw, Ladbrokes, a UK-based bookmaker, revised the odds for an Anand win, reflecting the evolving dynamics of the match. As the championship progresses, chess enthusiasts around the world will be eagerly watching to see who will emerge victorious in this highly anticipated battle of wits.