World champion Viswanathan Anand drew first blood, defeating Hungarian Peter Leko in the second game, to take an early lead in the eight-game rapid chess match in Miskolc, Hungary.
After drawing the first game, the Indian ace converted his first white game of the match into a full point with a fine display of positional chess.
Anand leads 1.5-0.5 with six games still remaining in the match, played under FIDE's rapid chess rules.
It was a Grunfeld Indian defense that trapped Leko in both games.
Anand employed the same opening, playing black in the first game and drew rather comfortably after even enjoying what seemed an optical advantage. Later when Leko used the same opening as his weapon, Anand simply outplayed him.
The eight-game rapid match which is organised in Leko's home country is a permanent fixture in recent years as Leko plays a match with a world class player.