Viswanathan Anand played an exciting draw against the local man, Veselin Topalov in the opening round of the M-Tel Masters chess tournament in Sofia on Thursday.
The Indian star, a brand Ambassador of NIIT, drew in 60 moves and later described it as "one of the best games" he had played against Topalov.
With the players not allowed to speak to each other or agree to a draw, Anand and Topalov finally arrived at a truce by repetition of moves.
Vladimir Kramnik was the first winner, beating Ruslan Ponomariov in 60 moves of a Caro-Kann.
Kramnik was winning all the way, as Pono blundered and erred far too often.
Michael Adams and Judit Polgar went to 74 moves from a Sicilian Scheveningen before the arbiters decided it was a drawn clash.
Anand played with white after the Bulgarian Minister of Finance, Milen Velchev, made the ceremonial first move. It was a e4 and with Topalov playing c5, the game was a Sicilian.
Black played the Najdorf, and then came English attack. Anand castled on 11th and gave up his queen on the 18th move and that seemed stunning.
"After giving up queen early on, I was not going to give away the game or play for a draw," said Anand of his play.
"Later, at some stage I realized that it would be a draw but I would not have offered it, even it were allowed."
Anand gave up his queen for three pieces and then fought a terrific tussle with his a-passer backed by an active knight and rook and a bishop against Topalov's four connected passer. The Indian ace was playing with greater numbers in pieces but Topalov had a queen and four pawns, making it exciting by the minute. It was a nail-biter all the way.
Anand lost his a-passed pawn on 49th move after a check from Topalov. At this stage, Anand had twin rooks and a knight plus two pawns to Topalov's queen and four pawns. With no agreed draws allowed the battle continued.
Topalov, now the second strongest player behind Anand after the retirement of Garry Kasparov, too felt he might have missed some chances.
"It is always difficult to say what happens on the board. It is always easier and simple once we see it on the computer," said Topalov, who had the home crowd rooting for him.
On the tournament that discourages draws, Anand, who is sponsored by Indian IT giant, NIIT, said, "That is actually a misnomer. The tournament does not forbid draws. It is just that players cannot offer draws. But today I would not have done that anyway. You might see a few more draws in the tournament."
"For years, the players have had it their way (agreeing to draws), so the spectators might have complained. Now it is their (spectators) turn to see such games," he added.
Results: Kramnik beat Ponomariov; Adams drew with Polgar; Anand drew with Topalov
Round 1 standings: 1. Kramnik 1.0; 2. Adams 0.5; 3. Anand 0.5; 4. Polgar 0.5; 5. Topalov 0.5; 6. Ponomariov 0.0.
