Date:18/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/18/stories/2008031860142100.htm

Sport - Chess

Anand shares lead

NEW DELHI: Viswanathan Anand produced a flawless performance to outwit Shakhriyar Mamedyarov in the rapid game to register a 1.5-0.5 victory in the second round of the Amber blindfold and rapid chess tournament at Nice, France, on Sunday.

The victory kept Anand in the lead with Levon Aronian and Vassily Ivanchuk.

The results: Second round: Blindfold: Viswanathan Anand (1) drew with Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Aze, 1); Sergey Karjakin (Ukr, 1.5) drew with Levon Aronian (Arm, 1); Vladimir Kramnik (1) drew with Peter Leko (Hun, 0.5); Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukr, 1.5) drew with Boris Gelfand (Isr, 0.5); Loek van Wely (Ned, 0.5) lost to Magnus Carlsen (Nor, 1); Alexander Morozevich (Rus, 1.5) bt Veselin Topalov (Bul, 1). Rapid: Mamedyarov (0.5) lost to Anand (2); Aronian (2) bt Karjakin (0.5); Leko (0.5) lost to Kramnik (1); Gelfand (0.5) lost to Ivanchuk (1.5); Carlsen (1.5) bt Wely (0); Topalov (1.5) bt Morozevich (0.5).

Standings: 1-3. Anand, Aronian, Ivanchuk (3), 4-5. Topalov, Carlsen (2.5); 6-8. Morozevich, Karjakin,Kramnik (2), 9. Mamedyarov (1.5); 10-11. Gelfand, Leko (1), 12. Wely (0.5).