Chess (March): Candidates' Tournament begins in London on March 15

[Jack Rabbit]

13. Update from London (March 16): Aronian, Raja Draw First Blood

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After yesterday's first round in which all games ended drawn, Levon Aronian and Teimour Radjabov scored the first victories today in second round of the Candidates' Tournament in London.

Aronian took down Boris Gelfand, last year's official challenger to Vishy Anand's world title, in a 35-move battle that began as a Symmetrical English Four Knights' Game and ended with White (Aronian) a pawn to the good in a Bishop ending and about to win a second pawn. Meanwhile, Radjabov, playing White, defeated Vassily Ivanchuk in a game that began as a Leningrad Dutch that saw "Chuckie" spinning his wheels from the opening. The game ended when the flag on Ivanchuk's clock fell as he made his 34th move in a hopeless position.

Today's other two games, Carlsen-Kramnik and Svidler-Grischuk, ended in draws.

The winner of the tournament will challenge reigning world champion Vishy Anand for his title in a match to be played in the Autumn.