Anand draws with Macieja

Super Grandmaster Vishwanathan Anand faced an unclear position against Poland's Bartlomiej Macieja and was content with a draw in the first game of the fourth round match of the World Chess Championship in Delhi on Wednesday.

Playing with black pieces, the Indian World No.2 opted for the Sicilian Opening and his game traversed into an unclear position till the end before he decided to settle for a draw on the 26th move.

Anand will resume his battle against the Polish giant-killer on Thursday with an advantage of white pieces and a win will see him through to the quarter-finals.

Macieja, who on Tuesday scored an upset victory over Alexander Beliavsky of Slovakia in the tie-break games, gave tense moments to Anand and Thursday's clash could prove crucial for the way the championship will proceed.

After getting an unclear position at the start, Anand made efforts to castle his king, but in vain. Macieja played a very defensive game and Anand was beset with his immovable king, which he had to keep in the centre till the end.

The title favourite spent a little extra time in understanding the situation that he was faced with.

The position offered risk to anyone who tried to open his ranks and the two GMs were forced to sign a truce treaty.