Bulgaria's Topalov, Anand Locked at 4.5-4.5 Score

Topalov and Anand drew their 9th game late Thursday night. Photo by BGNES

Bulgarian top chess player Veselin Topalov forced world champion Viswanathan Anand into a draw in the ninth game of the world chess championship.

In what experts have described as the most interesting and longest game so far the two players missed out on a chance to score a crucial victory.

Anand Topalov are locked at 4.5-4.5 score with just three more encounters remaining in the 12-game affair.

Anand got Topalov in the opening phase of the game but did not find the best manoeuvres to retain his advantage.

Anand switched to a Nimzo-Indian defense, forsaking the Catalan that had served him so well. At first his choice seemed justified as Topalov found himself in trouble in an ultra-complicated endgame, but Anand faltered at the last moment.

So far, all the games had been fought in the Catalan opening and Anand had attained two victories with that besides two draws.

If the scores are tied after 12 games, then the winner will be decided on tie-break games on May 13.

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