The opening match of the first chess title to be decided in Moscow since the Cold War ended in a cagey draw on Friday, May 11 as the rivals probed for weaknesses ahead of an epic three-week series.

India's title-holder Viswanathan Anand and Boris Gelfand of Israel shook hands after a compelling start to a clash that chess authorities hope will grip the public as it did when the Cold War shadowed the game in the 1970s and 80s.

Moscow is hosting the 12-match series at the State Tretyakov Gallery with a view to bringing back some of the Soviet-era magic to a city that many Russians regard as the game's natural home.

The 42-year-old Anand began his third defence of the world title since 2007 playing white and the overwhelming favorite despite a recent run of uninspired form.

His Minsk-born rival for his part was making his maiden challenge at 43 and hoping to fulfil the promise that once made him a hope of the great Soviet chess machine in his youth, AFP reported.