Gelfand errors help Anand tie series
05/22/2012 06:24
Anand needs just 17 moves to claim the win.
Anand resigns after K-e6 in Game 7 Photo: REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany
Israel’s Boris Gelfand handed the initiative in the World Chess Championships
back to defending-champion Viswanathan Anand on Monday, committing crucial
mistakes to gift the Indian a win in Game 8, which ties the score in the 12-game
series in Moscow at 4-4.
Anand admitted he drifted in his defeat to
Gelfand on Sunday, but he punished the 44-year-old Israeli for his mistakes in
Game 8, handing the Rishon Lezion resident a crushing psychological blow in the
battle for the world title and over $1.5 million in prize money.
Anand
needed just 17 moves to claim the win on Monday, helped by big errors from
Gelfand, who was playing with the black pieces, on the 13th and 16th
moves.
Gelfand and Anand will enjoy a day of rest on Tuesday before
resuming the showdown with Games 9 and 10 on Wednesday and Thursday.
In
case of a tie after 12 games, a tiebreaker will be held next Wednesday.