Viswanathan Anand showed immaculate preparation to score a stunning win over Lev Aronian in the second round of the World Chess Championships in Mexico City on Friday. Also scoring a finely crafted win was his arch-rival Vladimir Kramnik, who beat Alexander Morozevich in another second round.
The other two games ended in draws with Peter Svidler splitting points with Peter Leko and Boris Gelfand held by Alexander Grischuk.
With a win apiece for Anand and Kramnik, the stage was set for a riveting third round clash between the two leaders. Anand, who has won 18 times against Kramnik and lost 14, will have the advantage of white pieces. The two have also drawn 86 times.
Kramnik beat Morozevich in a mere 27 moves following a Catalan opening.
In the first round Anand started the championship with a draw against Gelfand, while Kramnik drew his first round with Svidler.
Pairings for Round 3: Anand v Kramnik; Grischuk v Aronian; Leko v Gelfand; Morozevich v Svidler
Results of Round 2: Kramnik beat Morozevich; Gelfand drew with Grischuk; Svidler drew with Leko; Aronian lost to Anand
Standings after Round 2: 1. Anand and Kramnik 1.5; 3. Gelfand, Svidler, Grischuk and Leko 1.0; 7. Aronian and Morozevich 0.5
Aronian v Anand
Round 2, World Championships, Mexico 2007
1.d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 dxc4 7. e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5 9. Ne5 h5 10. h4 g4 11. Be2 Bb7 12. O-O Nbd7 13. Qc2 Nxe5 14. Bxe5 Bg7 15. Rad1 O-O 16. Bg3 Nd7 17. f3 c5 18. dxc5 Qe7 19. Kh1 a6 20. a4 Bc6 21. Nd5 exd5 22. exd5 Be5 23. f4 Bg7 24. dxc6 Nxc5 25. Rd5 Ne4 26. Be1 Qe6 27. Rxh5 f5 28. Kh2 Rac8 29. Bb4 Rfe8 30. axb5 axb5 31. Re1 Qf7 32. Rg5 Nxg5 33. fxg5 Rxc6 34. Bf1 Rxe1 35. Bxe1 Re6 36. Bc3 Qc7+ 37. g3 Re3 38. Qg2 Bxc3 39. bxc3 f4 40. Qa8+ Kg7 41. Qa6 fxg3+ 0-1 (Anand wins)
