Date:29/01/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/01/29/stories/2007012905062000.htm

Sport

Another draw for Anand

NEW DELHI: Viswanathan Anand's search for victory proved futile after Sergei Tiviakov stood firm during their 27-move draw and in the 12th and penultimate round of the Corus chess tournament at Wijk ann Zee, near Amsterdam, on Saturday.

The result left Anand with seven points in the company of World champion Vladimir Kramnik who drew in 49 moves with top seed Veselin Topalov in their `grudge battle'.

Teimour Radjabov joined Topalov at eight points after beating Alexander Motylev in 40 moves. In Group 'C', Parimarjan Negi failed to make the most of a promising position and went on to hold Russian leader Ian Nepomniachtchi in 55 moves.

The results (12th round):

Group `A': Sergei Tiviakov (Ned, 5) drew with Viswanathan Anand (7); Veselin Topalov (Bul, 8) drew with Vladimir Kramnik (Rus, 7); Alexander Motylev (Rus, 4.5) lost to Teimour Radjabov (Aze, 8); Alexei Shirov (Esp, 4) drew with Levon Aronian (Arm, 7.5).

Loek van Wely (Ned, 5) bt Peter Svidler (Rus, 7); Sergey Karjakin (Ukr, 5) drew with Magnus Carlsen (Nor, 4); David Navara (Cze, 6) bt Ruslan Ponomariov (Ukr, 5.5).

Group `C': Parimarjan Negi (6.5) drew with Ian Nepomniachtchi (Rus, 10); Michal Krasenkow (Pol, 9.5) bt Edwin van Haastert (Ned, 5.5); Emanual Berg (Swe, 8) bt Manuel Bosboom (Ned, 5); Stellan Brynell (Swe, 3.5) drew with Hou Yifan (Chn, 7).

Thomas Willemze (Ned, 3.5) lost to Wouter Spoelman (Ned, 6.5); Nadezhda Kosintseva (Rus, 4.5) drew with Peng Zhaoqin (Ned, 5.5); John van der Wiel (Ned, 5.5) bt Harmen Jonkman (Ned, 3.5).