On what turned out to be an easy day, Anand had to stretch himself only a little as Karjakin did not attempt any complicated warfare. The result was exchanging of pieces at regular intervals and the players signed peace in an opposite coloured Bishops endgame.
With 1.5 points in his kitty, Anand now shares the second spot behind Anish Giri of Holland who came up with another sterling performance to beat Vladimir Kramnik of Russia.
Playing white, B Adhiban paid a heavy price for his safe approach against Carlsen. Known for his combative and uncompromising chess that won him many fans in the last edition, Adhiban went for a sedate four knights Scotch opening and it never looked like he was in serious contention.
The middle game witnessed the trading of queens and the ensuing endgame was a likely draw.
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However, as it normally happens to Carlsen's opponents in such positions, the world's top ranked player just pressed and Adhiban could not find the right path to equality. In the end, two passed pawns rolled down white's throat and it was all over.
In the challengers section being organised simultaneously, Vidit Gujrathi scored a crushing victory over Michal Krasenko of Poland. Playing the white side of a Sicilian defense, the Indian Grandmaster was in full swing as he launched an early attack on the black king.
Seizing space inch by inch, Gujrathi paralysed black's position completely pretty quickly and Krasenkow decided to call it a day after a mere 27 moves.
Jorden Van Foreest of Holland, Dmitry Gordievsky of Russia, and Anton Korobov of Ukraine share the lead with Gujrathi on 1,5 points apiece after the end of the second round in this section.
Results round 2 Masters: Hou Yifan (Chn, 0) lost to Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Aze, 1.5); Maxim Matlakov (Rus, 0.5) drew with Wesley So (Usa, 1); Sergey Karjakin (Rus, 1) drew with V Anand (Ind, 1.5); Fabiano Caruana (Usa, 1) drew with Gawain Jones (Eng, 1); B Adhiban (Ind, 0.5) lost to Magnus Carlsen (Nor, 1.5); Wei Yi (Chn, 0.5) drew with Peter Svidler (Rus, 1); Anish Giri (Ned, 2) beat Vladimir Kramnik (Rus, 1)