The FIDE World Candidates Tournament 2014 started Thursday at the beautiful playing venue in Ugra Chess Academy in Khanty-Mansiysk.
Dmitry Andreikin and Vladimir Kramnik, the World Cup 2013 finalists, were paired in the first round of the Candidates Tournament.
The players moved quickly through the opening, in the line of Nimzo-Indian defence which Kramnik used before with great success.
The position quickly simplified into an equal rook endgame and the competitors signed a draw on move 32.
Kramnik commented that as he played the first game with black pieces, he just wanted to avoid a defeat and get warmed up for the tournament. He didn’t want to reveal how deep his preparation was, but he noted that he already had the position after 21…Qe4 in the game against fellow Candidate Shakhriyar Mamedyarov. On that occasion Mamedyarov took a draw with perpetual check.
Andreikin decided to play on because he though that after 24.b6 maybe there are small problems for black. He showed some lines in which white could have obtained advantage, but Kramnik was up to the task and comfortably held the position.
More information: Official website Daily Chess Insider magazine in PDF and PGN / Live games with standings and statistics / Alternative live 1 / Alternative live 2 (with chat)