Trailing 1.5-0.5 defending Rapid champion Viswanathan Anand came back into the match with a victory in the third game and a draw the fourth against Temiour Radjabov, on the second day of the four-day eight-game Rapid World Championship, in Mainz, Germany.
In the third game Anand, who was shocked by the Azerbaijan Grandmaster in the second game, replied with d5 to his opponent's White opening move of d4 and the game slowly drifted towards Queen Gambit Declined Semi Slav variation. After a debacle in which he lost a game to Radjabov, Anand came well-prepared and took no time to implement his idea.
Right from the beginning Radjabov was looking perturbed and the young Grandmaster lost control of the game. In the end game, Anand, having 10 minutes at his disposal against Radjabov's two minutes, attacked the White king continuously. Unable to defend his king Radjabov meekly surrendered to the Rapid master on the 36th move.
It was a big victory for Anand with black pieces.
In the fourth game, which went on Sicilian's typical Shevsnikov lines, Anand was better at some points but could not force a win against a determined Radjabov. After a marathon duel seeing no result in sight both the players agreed for a draw.
With a win and a draw, Anand has now leveled with Radjabov and is back in the match.
''Today it went much better. With black I was able to use an idea I had prepared and I got very good position and converted it very well. To be honest my black game went excellently. With White I was able to manage. I think I was better at some point,'' Anand said after the games.
Now both Anand and Radjabov have two points each after four games.