11th game ends in draw

The eleventh game of the World Chess Championship ended in a draw in London on Thursday as Kasparov once again failed to extract advantage from the white pieces.

Kramnik played the Archangelsk variation which has gained popularity recently. Both the players played quickly in the first 20 moves.

After the 14th move, the players exchanged pieces and the resulting endgame proved familiar for both of them.

Thereafter Kasparov earned an advantage by having a rook and two pawns for two bishops. Kasparov tried to utilise this advantage and managed to create a passed pawn, but Kramnik's employment of defence technique showed he was not threatened at all.

The players decided to end the game on move 41 when the play appeared to be heading in nobody's favour.

Kasparov, admitted after the match on Thursday he had been playing "poorly".

The championship does not augur well for the reigning world champion Gary Kasparov as he is in real danger of being dethroned by Kramnik.

Out of the 11 games played so far, Kramnik won the second and the tenth games while nine others were drawn. Kramnik is leading the championship 6.5 to 4.5. Kasparov's can retain the championship only if he manages to equalise with Kramnik, ending with eight games each.

Kramnik will play with white pieces tomorrow in the 12th game of the championship.