From press release:
The World Champion played white. The two contenders immediately engage in open combat. Boris Gelfand chose an opening that was unusual for him, while Viswanathan Anand responded with surprise after surprise, playing a fairly rare but subtle variation. The challenger reacted in the most radical way: he took a flank pawn, thus subjecting his king, which remained in the centre, to a certain risk. Black rebuffed all threats with precise play and forced a transition to an ending that was somewhat better for itself. However, the assessment of the position did not depart much from parity, and literally within a few moves the contenders agreed to a draw.
At the press conference Boris Gelfand attributed his decision to the fact that he could not see any specific ways for Black to fight for an advantage. So the challenger, who has successfully entered the game and will play white six times during the rest eleven games, is retaining a certain moral advantage.
Originally posted by Paul LeggettIn the game both of them run out of their preparations very fast. Anand did not expect Gruenfeld (he would play 15.Bf4 instead of 15.Bg5?!, if he was prepared). Gelfand was not prepared to play vs. rare 9.d5 line, but managed to find 14...Ra7! and 15...exd6! over the board.
It wouldn't surprise me a bit if Gelfand was happy to draw simply because it was the first game, and he was black.
He came out of the opening well, and all white achieved was to learn what Gelfand has prepared against 1. d4 for the match.
upd. People crying about such a draws as "bad for chess" may ask Gelfand not to defend so well in next games.