Anand beats Ponomariov, Kamsky Sole Leader at Mtel Masters
By Vijay Kumar

Sofia, 14th May 2006 .The Battle between the two former world chess champions India’s Viswanathan Anand and Ukraine’s Ruslan Ponomariov was the longest game of the 4th Round of the Mtel Masters being played at Grand Hotel Sofia.

Anand ,who lost his 3rd round game to American Grandmaster Gata Kamsky, came well prepared for his match against Ponomariov.

Playing with White Anand opened with his favourite e 4 and his opponent replied with c6 and after the set moves the game was played on the Caro- Kann , Classical variation.
Early in the game the Queens got exchange on the 17th move and Anand thereafter moved his pieces and slowly captured the important squares to attack on the Black King with Rxd8+. Ponomariov could avert the danger by moving his king to Kh7. Anand was quick to build up a very strong pawn structure and Ponomariov, who repeatedly made wrong moves, could not compete with Anand’s strong play and surrendered after Anand 57 moves.

The Other Important game was played between Round 3 leader American Grandmaster Gata Kamsky and Russia’s Peter Svidler. Fresh from his two splendid victories against Bacrot in the 2nd and against Anand in the 3rd round Kamsky went all out to capture this Sicilian ,Taimanov Varriation game. With Svidler committing early blunder on his 15th move with Nd7 , it took Kamsky just 9 more moves to pick up the game.

Etienne Bacrot and Veselin Topalov also played a short game as no one was ready to take any initiative in their Nimzo Indian , Three Knights variation game. After 29 moves the Chief Arbiter intervened and declared the game as drawn.

Round 4 Results

Gata Kamskybeat Peter Svidler
Etienne Bacrot drew with Veselin Topalov
Viswanathan Anand beat Ruslan Ponomariov

Standing After Round 4

1. Gata Kamsky 3.5 points
2. Viswanathan Anand 3 points
3. Peter Svidler 2 points
4. Veselin Topalov 1.5 points
5-6 Ruslan Ponomariov, Etienne Bacrot 1 point

Pairing Round 5.

Veselin Topalov vs Gata Kamsky
Peter Svidler vs Viwanathan Anand
Ruslan Ponomariov vs Etienne Bacrot