The Hindu : Sport / Chess : Anand jumps into lead

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Tuesday, Mar 06, 2007
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Anand jumps into lead

NEW DELHI: Viswanathan Anand produced a brilliant finish to a crafty assault against Magnus Carlsen in the battle of leaders and jumped to a one-point lead after 10 rounds of the Morelia-Linares Super Grandmasters chess tournament in Linares, Spain, on Sunday.

Anand, the lone winner of the day, reached 6.5 points, one clear of Carlsen and Ukraine's Vassily Ivanchuk. Four rounds remain in the eight-player double round-robin event. Monday is a rest day.

This was Anand's second victory over the youngster from Norway in the event. Anand had won with black in the third round in Morelia, Mexico, in the first leg.

Sunday's encounter in Ruy Lopez saw Anand swiftly shift his line of attack from the queenside and go after a defenceless king. On the 27th move, Anand offered his knight which Carlsen rightly declined.

With the knight firmly planted on a strategic square, Anand mounted a relentless offensive with the help of queen and rook. A helpless Carlsen gave up on the 38th move when Anand's queen threatened to cause further damage.

The results: 10th round: Viswanathan Anand (6.5) bt Magnus Carslen (Nor, 5.5); Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukr, 5.5) drew with Peter Svidler (Rus, 5); Levon Aronian (Arm, 5) drew with Alexander Morozevich (Rus, 4); Peter Leko (Hun, 4) drew with Veselin Topalov (Bul, 4.5).

Tuesday's pairings (11th round): Morozevich-Anand; Carlsen-Ivanchuk; Aronian-Leko; Svidler-Topalov.

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