Moscow Chess Game a Draw in Only 18 Moves

World chess champion Anatoly Karpov and challenger Gary Kasparov played to a draw in only 18 moves Thursday in the 12th game of their title match.

The game began with Karpov playing white in the Taimonov variation of the Sicilian Defense. Kasparov played a completely new 8th move and managed to equalize the position.

The contest is now tied in points at 6-6. A win counts one point, a draw a half-point. The first player to win six games takes the title. But if neither manages six victories, and the players are tied after the maximum 24 games, Karpov will retain his championship.

Game 13 in the competition is scheduled for Saturday.

Here are the moves of the game:

Karpov-Kasparov 12: 1 e4 c5 2 nf3 e6 3 d4 c:d4 4 n:d4 nc6 5 nb5 d6 6 c4 nf6 7 n1c3 a6 8na3 d5 9 e:d5 e:d5 10 c:d5 nb4 11 bc4 bg4 12 be2 b:e2 13 q:e2 ch qe7 14 be3 nb:d5 15 nc2 n:e3 16 n:e3 qe6 17 0-0 b-c5 18 rf-e1 0-0 Draw agreed.