Svidler sniffs title after draw; Ivanchuk beats Ponomariov

Grandmaster Peter Svidler of Russia on Saturday, moved closer to winning the World Chess Cup after playing out a quick draw with countrymate Alexander Grischuk in the second game of the final.

Svidler, who won the first game of the four-game final with black pieces in the USD 1.6 million event which is also a part of the next World Championship cycle, took it easy expectedly with white pieces to lead by 1.5-0.5 at the half way stage of the match.

Vassily Ivanchuk outwitted fellow Ukrainian and former world champion Ruslan Ponomariov to take lead in the third-place play-off match. Ivanchuk, like Svidler, leads 1.5-0.5 with two games to go. The third place finisher will also qualify for the next World Championship cycle.

Grischuk started with the sharp Najdorf Sicilian as black. However, Svidler was in no mood to give any chances. The pieces changed hand regularly and after a mere 16 moves the players agreed to sign the peace treaty.

Ivanchuk won in exciting fashion out of a level looking middle game. Going for the Vienna opening as black, Ivanchuk had little problems in restoring the balance and once Ponomariov erred and allowed some initiative the former challenger did not give many chances.

Taking both his rooks to the seventh rank, Ivanchuk turned the tide decisively in his favour and when faced with material loss Ponomariov called it day. The game lasted 40 moves.

Results game two final: Peter Svidler (Rus) drew with Alexander Grischuk (Rus); Svidler leads 1.5-0.5

Third place play off: Ruslan Ponomariov (Ukr) lost to V Ivanchuk (Ukr); Ponomariov trails 0.5-1.5.