Anand begins with draw, Negi wins in Chorus chess tournament

Wijk Aan Zee, Holland, Jan 14 (UNI) Viswanathan Anand opened his campaign for a sixth Corus chess title with a draw against former world champion Ruslan Ponomariov of Ukriane in the first round here.

In Group C, Delhi prodigy Parimarjan Negi recoreded an emphatic victory over local favourite and International Master Wouter Spoelman with white pieces. Negi needed just 27 moves for his fine win.

Playing with black in Group A, Anand quickly got equality in a Catalan opening with a thematic Queen and Bishop battery that helped him neutralise Ponomariov's advance, but agreed for a draw after 22 moves.

World champion Vladimir Kramnik of Russia had no problems with black pieces to share points with Sergey Karjakin after 33 moves in another match in Group A, which is a category-19 event played on a round robin basis between 14 players.

Bulgarian Grandmaster Veselin Topalov was also held to a draw by Alexander Motylev, who was making debut in Group A. Playing with white, Topalov was a little docile unlike his usual aggressive self and settled for a draw after 26 moves.

The only decisive match of the day came from 19-year-old Azerbaijani Teimour Radjabov who beat Loek Van Wely in the classical King's Indian after 40 moves.

Anand will now meet Motylev in the next round while Negi takes on Stellan Brynell with black pieces.

Round One Results: Anand drew with Ponomariov; Karjakin drew with Kramnik; Navara drew with Aronian; Shirov drew with Svidler; Tiviakov drew with Carlsen; Topalov drew with Motylev; Van Wely lost to Radjabov Pairings for Round Two: Anand v Motylev; Aronian v Ponomariov; Carlsen v Navara; Svidler v Tiviakov; Kramnik v Shirov; Radjabov v Karjakin; Topalov v Van Wely UNI