Date:06/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/06/stories/2008030660082300.htm

Sport - Chess

Anand closer to title

NEW DELHI: World champion Viswanathan Anand inched closer to defending the title in the prestigious Linares-Morelia chess tournament after a comfortable draw with Hungary’s Peter Leko in the 12th round at Linares, Spain, on Tuesday.

As a result of the 37-move draw in Ruy Lopez, Anand moved to 7.5 points, half a point ahead of Norway’s Magnus Carlsen who defeated Bulgaria’s Veselin for the second time in the 14-round event. The other two games ended in draws.

Playing white, Anand was comfortable right through the contest. At one stage, he appeared to be holding a slight edge with Leko’s weak pawns raising visions of a decisive outcome.

But Leko gave up a pawn and defended accurately to come out undefeated.

The results (Round 12):

Viswanathan Anand (7.5) drew with Peter Leko (Hun, 5); Magnus Carslen (Nor, 7) bt Veselin Topalov (Bul, 6); Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukr, 5.5) drew with Teimour Radjabov (Aze, 5.5); Alexei Shirov (Esp, 5) drew with Levon Aronian (Arm, 6.5).