WC Championship match, game 2: another dull draw

[Javier]

It's only been two rounds so far, but I'm missing the Topalov - Kramnik match already! (that match started with two victories for Kramnik, and then there were the "Toilet gate" accusations by Topalov's team, which got a fair bit of media attention...).

I don't know, I just don't think in today's fast internet world 2 men World Championships are that attractive anymore, and less so when the players play 20 moves draws.

Look at the US Championship for example, today there were 5 decisive games out of the 6 that were played...

 

Anyway, here's the second round game:

 

 

[Event "WCh 2012"]

[site "Moscow RUS"]

[Date "2012.05.12"]

[Round "2"]

[White "Gelfand, Boris"]

[black "Anand, Viswanathan"]

[Result "1/2-1/2"]

[ECO "D45"]

[WhiteElo "2727"]

[blackElo "2791"]

[PlyCount "49"]

[EventDate "2012.05.11"]

 

[pgn]1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 a6 {I guess a wild Semi-Slav with 5...Nbd7 was not on the cards.} 6. b3 Bb4 7. Bd2 {Now the white bishop is less active on d2.} (7. Bb2 {This would be a blunder} Ne4 8. Qc2 Qa5 9. Rc1 Qxa2) 7... Nbd7 8. Bd3 O-O 9. O-O Bd6 10. Rc1 e5 11. cxd5 cxd5 12. e4 (12. dxe5 Nxe5 13. Nxe5 Bxe5 {Black has an isolated pawn here, but the black pieces are becoming increasingly active and white needs to defend his Kingside.}) 12... dxe4 13. Nxe4 Nxe4 14. Bxe4 Nf6 15. dxe5 Nxe4 16. exd6 Qxd6 {The symmetrical pawn structure and the pressence of bishops of opposite colour makes the position rather drawish.} 17. Be3 Bf5 18. Qxd6 Nxd6 19. Nd4 Rfe8 20. Nxf5 (20. Bf4 Re4) 20... Nxf5 21. Bc5 h5 22. Rfd1 Rac8 23. Kf1 f6 24. Bb4 Kh7 25. Rc5 { A draw was agreed.} 1/2-1/2[/pgn]