NEW DELHI: Draws on all four boards kept the standings unchanged after the Morelia-Linares Super Grandmasters chess tournament resumed with the eighth round in the Spanish town of Linares on Saturday.

Barring joint-leader Magnus Carlsen, who pressed for victory with black pieces against Alexander Morozevich, none of the players took the initiative after reaching Linares from Morelia, where the first half of the event was played last month.

Equal to the challenge

Anand, playing white against top-seed Veselin Topalov, found the Bulgarian equal to the challenge in Sicilian Najdorf. In similar opening lines against Vassily Ivanchuk in the second round, Topalov had lost in Morelia. But against Anand, Topalov cleverly deviated from the line on the ninth move and played for equality. After 25 moves of light sparring, the players agreed to sign peace.

Carlsen tried for a win with black pieces against tail-ender Morozevich, but settled for a draw in 42 moves of Ruy Lopez.

The results (eighth round): Viswanathan Anand (Ind, 5) drew with Veselin Topalov (Bul, 3.5); Alexander Morozevich (Rus, 2.5) drew with Magnus Carlsen (Nor, 5); Peter Leko (Hun, 3.5) drew with Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukr, 4.5); Levon Aronian (Arm, 4) drew with Peter Svidler (4).

Svidler-Anand; Carlsen-Aronian; Topalov-Ivanchuk; Morozevich-Leko.<137>

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