Leko holds Anand; Kasparov maintains lead

By Arvind Aaron

WIJK AAN ZEE, JAN. 19. World No.1 Garry Kasparov of Russia scored a smashing miniature victory over GM Loek Van Wely of the Netherlands to stay at the top after three rounds in the Corus Chess Tournament here on Tuesday.

Viswanathan Anand drew with rising star Peter Leko of Hungary to stay in the second position with two points from three games. Jeroen Piket, who upset his more famous Dutch team-mate Jan Timman, kept pace with Kasparov and Kramnik in the lead with 2.5 points.

Round three belonged to the three Russians who scored convincing victories. The youngest of the trio, Alexander Morozevich, who beat Judit Polgar of Hungary won the public's vote for the best game of round three. Anand who won the public's prize (Rs.10,000) for the best game of round two played the Petroff's defence to draw his former trainer Leko in 27 moves with the black pieces.

The results (third round): Jan Timman (Ned) 1.5 lost to J. Piket (Ned) 2.5, P. Nikolic (Bih) 1 drew S. Lputian (Arm) 0.5, P. Leko (Hun) 1.5 drew V. Anand (Ind) 2, V. Kramnik (Rus) 2.5 bt N. Short (Eng) 1, Judit Polgar (Hun) 1 lost to A. Morozevich (Rus) 2, V. Korchnoi (Swz) 1.5 drew M. Adams (Eng) 1, G. Kasparov (Rus) 2.5 bt L. Van Wely (Ned) 0.5.

Wednesday's fourth round pairing: Piket-Van Wely, Adams-Kasparov, Morozevich-Korchnoi, Short-Polgar, Anand-Kramnik, Lputian-Leko and Timman-Nikolic.

The moves: GM P.Leko-GM V.Anand, round 3, Petroff's defence, C42: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Be7 7.O-O Nc6 8.c4 Nb4 9.Be2 O-O 10.Nc3 Be6 11.Ne5 f6 12.Nf3 c5 13.Be3 Rc8 14.dxc5 Bxc5 15.Nd4 Nxc3 16.bxc3 Bxd4 17.Bxd4 Nc6 18.c5 Bf7 19.Re1 Re8 20.Bd3 Rxe1 21.Qxe1 Rc7 22.Qb1 h6 23.Qb3 Re7 24.h3 Qa5 25.Rd1 Kh8 26.Rb1 Bg8 27.Rd1 Draw.

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