Chess master Gelfand stalemates Anand in first round
First game of twelve in World Chess Championship ends well for the Israeli grandmaster
Boris Gelfand, left, playing chess against Natan Sharanksy and Benjamin Netanyahu, far right, in 2010 (photo credit:Alex Kolomoisky/Pool/Flash90
Israeli Grandmaster Boris Gelfand drew with defending champion Viswanathan Anand in the opening round of the World Chess Championship in Moscow on Friday.
Gelfand held Anand at bay with solid defensive play, but the Israeli competitor opted for the draw. Gelfand will choose colors for the upcoming second of twelve matches.
This is the fifth time Anand will be forced to defend his title, though he no longer holds the top world ranking, falling to No. 4 recently. Gelfand is ranked 22.
Although Anand is widely considered the favorite, Gelfand came out fighting for a chance at his first world title in this year’s World Chess Championship.