It’s a Draw--in Only 16 Moves

Garry Kasparov and Viswanathan Anand played the shortest game of their Professional Chess Assn. world championship Thursday in New York, agreeing to a draw in only 16 moves. The game lasted 40 minutes.

Kasparov had declared the fight for the championship over after winning the two previous games, and Anand’s play Thursday did not dispute Kasparov’s claim. Kasparov now leads, 9 to 6, in the best-of-20-game match. He needs one more point to retain his title, and 1 1/2 points to take the $1-million winner’s share of the prize fund.

Anand, who has won only one game so far, needs an unprecedented comeback to become champion. He must score four wins and a draw in the last five games to reach 10 1/2 points.

Anand made little effort Thursday to capitalize on the advantage of playing White. For the third time, Kasparov used the combative Sicilian Dragon. Anand replied with 9 g4, a popular idea a decade ago that has since been rendered harmless. His decision to trade queens at move 14 foreshadowed a quick draw. In fact, all of the moves of the game have been played before in grandmaster events.

“I think he probably gave up his hopes to win the game,” Kasparov said.

The match will not last the full 20 games if Kasparov clinches victory by achieving 10 1/2 points. Today’s 16th game and Monday’s 17th game must be played, but the remaining three may be unnecessary.

Here are the moves of Thursday’s game:

Anand-Kasparov #15: 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 g6 6 Be3 Bg7 7 f3 0-0 8 Qd2 Nc6 9 g4 Be6 10 0-0-0 Nxd4 11 Bxd4 Qa5 12 Kb1 Rfc8 13 a3 Rab8 14 Nd5 Qxd2 15 Rxd2 Nxd5 16 Bxg7 Ne3, Drawn.

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World Chess Championship

Thursday: Draw

Standings: Kasparov leads 9-6 in best-of-20 series

Next game: Today