chess

The annual tournament at Wijk aan Zee in the Netherlands has attracted a strong field, headed by Anand and Ivanchuk, and including five of the world's top 10 players, but it has been slow to gather momentum. In the first round, Dreyev beat Van Wely and all the other games were drawn; in round two, Sokolov beat Van Wely and all the other games were drawn. Even when not putting the boot into Van Wely, however, the players have produced some interesting games.

There was no lack of excitement in this one. Adams's attack, begun with 11.h4 and 12.h5, stalled for most of the middle-game, but recovered in time to save a draw.

White: Michael Adams

Black: Veselin Topalov

Sicilian Defence

1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 g6 6 Be3 Bg7 7 f3 Nc6 8 Qd2 0-0 9 0-0-0 d5 10 Qe1 e6 11 h4 Qc7 12 h5 Nxh5 13 exd5 exd5 14 Ndb5 Qg3 15 Bf2 Qf4+ 16 Be3 Qf6 17 Rxd5 Nf4 18 Rd6 Be6 19 Qd2 Nh5 20 Bg5 Qe5 21 g4 Ng3 22 Bf4 Nxf1 23 Rxf1 Qc5 24 Be3 Qc4 25 Rh1 Nb4 26 Bd4 Nxa2+ 27 Nxa2 Qxa2 28 Qh2 h5 29 Bxg7 Kxg7 30 Qe5+ Kg8 31 Nc3 Qa1+ 32 Nb1 Ba2 33 Kd2 Rfe8 34 Qf6 Bxb1 35 Rxh5 gxh5 36 Qg5+ Kf8 37 Qh6+ Ke7 38 Qf6+ Kf8 39 Qh8+ Ke7 40 Qf6+ Kf8 41 Qh8+ draw.