Close Contests In Kazan Semis

The second day of the Candidates semi-finals in Kazan produced two extremely tense contests as the players battled for supremacy.

Kramnik obtained a nice position against Grischuk from an English opening, achieving a dangerous passed d-pawn.  However, Grischuk kept the criminal under lock and key, establishing a monstrously powerful knight at d6 as a highly effective guard.

Despite an extra pawn, Kramnik had no way to break through and a draw was eventually agreed.

Kramnik tried hard to make his extra pawn count...

...but Grischuk defended superbly to earn a draw

Gelfand had even better chances to win against Kamsky in a sharp Grunfeld, where the American was soon in big trouble on the board, and on the clock.

Gelfand had a crushing positional advantage, and even had time for a delightful little dance with his knight f3-d2-e4-c3-d5 as he turned the thumbscrews on Kamsky's poor pieces.

But soon after that, the pressure drifted away like mist on the breeze and Kamsky escaped with a crucial draw.

Gelfand missed an opportunity to take the lead...

...and Kamsky survived after a long hard fight

The third games of the semi-final matches start tomorrow at the usual time of 3pm in Kazan (11:00 UTC, 07:00 Eastern).

Live coverage and more is available at the official website, and fantastic live video of the playing hall is available here.

If one or both of the semi-final matches goes to tie-breaks Chess.com will be covering it live on Chess.com TV with GM Melik Khachiyan and Jason "The Poet" Stoneking.  More information will be announced in the Official Chess.com/TV Group

Pictures taken from the live coverage at the official website.