Game 1 of the rapid tiebreaks was exciting and saw both players escape serious trouble. Boris Gelfand had White in the first regular Semi-Slav of the match, and was trying to make something of a micro-edge when he uncorked the blunder 19.a4? It was a useful waiting move in every case but one, and Anand found it: 19...Qf3, when 20.Be4 to defend the pawn on d5 dropped its newly unprotected colleague on b3.
The next inaccuracy occurred on move 22, when 22...Qb6 rather than 22...Qc4 let Gelfand achieve equality, and then 26...Kh7? even gave White a clear edge. The position was complicated and time was drawing short, and although White had the better position and a slight lead on the clock Gelfand didn't want to risk playing on with 28.Qd3 when a safe draw with 28.Qxh6+ was available.
So a draw it is; game 2 of the world championship tiebreak begins shortly.