Dortmund, June 28 (PTI): World No.1 Vishwanathan Anand displayed his mastery of the endgame to crush German Arkadij Naiditsch for maiden win in the Super Grandmasters Chess Tournament in the fourth round here on Wednesday.

The victory placed Anand in joint second spot with Evgeny Alekseev, half a point behind sole leader, World Champion Vladimir Kramnik, who continued his awesome form to overwhelm Norwegian prodigy Magnus Carlsen.

Alekseev, the dark horse of the tournament, drew against Peter Leko, who has now drawn all his games and shares the fourth and fifth position with Shakhriyar Mamedyarov.

Mamedyarov also played out a draw, against Boris Gelfand.

Anand was clearly looking for a win against Naiditsch and took some risks in the opening.

Naiditsch could have obtained a strong position, but missed an opportunity to exchange bishops on the 23rd move. Anand won a pawn and the resulting endgame looked drawish despite his material advantage.

With Anand having a rook, a knight and three pawns against Naiditsch's rook, bishop and two pawns, the position looked quite simplified.

It was then that Anand stamped his class by conjuring a mating attack out of thin air.

Anand caught his opponent's king in mating net with his rook and knight and Naiditsch resigned after losing his bishop on the 57th move.

Kramnik crushed Carlsen with the white pieces in a one sided game.

The Russian World Champion played the Catalan opening and the game proceeded along conventional lines till move fifteen.