Anand draws fourth game
with Hungarian Peter Leko

India's world champion Viswanathan Anand preferred a quiet draw for the third time in four days here at the Sparkassen Dortmund Chess Meeting 2001 here this evening. The Brand Ambassador for the Indian IT giant, NIIT, played a 30-move draw against Hungarian Peter Leko, an immensely popular player here in Germany.

Anand's draw against Leko may have almost been expected considering he would have preferred to be safe after a shock loss at the hands of Bulgarian Veselin Topalov in the third round a day earlier. Also he meets Vladimir Kramnik of Russia, the other world champion, in the fifth round.

Meanwhile Kramnik gave himself a boost ahead of his match against Anand with a win against the unpredictable Alexander Morozevich of Russia. Kramnik won the game in 38 moves of a Slav defence game and he had white pieces. Kramnik once again was in good form and Morozevich paid for risky play. Kramnik played brilliantly with a rook and bishop against twin rooks.

Topalov meanwhile had to be satsified with a draw after seeming to have got into a winning position against Michael Adams. But the Englishman fought well and gave it all in a very exciting game.

In a Ruy Lopez, Topalov played with black but attacked well and gave an exchange and got three pawns for it. Topalov had a queen, a rook and bishop to Adams' queen and twin rooks. In the ultimate end, Topalov had to allow perpetual and the game was drawn after 50 moves.

The win takes Kramnik to three points from four games with two wins and two draws. Topalov has 2.5 points from two wins and one draw. Peter Leko has 2.5 points with one win and three draws. Anand has three draws and one loss for 1.5 points, the same as Adams. Moorzevich has one point from four games with two draws and two losses.

Anand and Leko were engaged in a Caro-Kann game where the Indian had black pieces. The variation arrived at was similar to what two former world champions, Mikhail Tal and Mikhail Botwinnink had played in 1961.

Leko had some space advantage but somewhat surprisingly did not go in for attacking play. Maybe the fact he has won only once in 24 previous games _ of all types, classical, rapid and blitz _ may have had to something to do with Leko's preferring a dullish draw. After 30 moves the game was quietly drawn and set aside for the books.

In the fifth round, Anand will meet Kramnik and the Indian starts with the white pieces. After the Mainz match the NIIT-sponsored probably starts the match with the slightest of psychological pluses, but then Kramnik with two wins here so far, will have recovered by now.

In the other games, Morozevich has white against Michael Adams and Veselin Topalov will have white against Peter Leko.

POINTS
(AFTER FOUR ROUNDS);
Kramnik (Rus) 3 points
Leko (Hun) 2.5
Anand (Ind) 1.5
Morozevich (Rus) 1

PAIRINGS FOR FIFTH ROUND:
Anand v Kramnik
Morozevich v Adams
Topalov v Leko