Date:22/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/22/stories/2008032260172500.htm

Sport - Chess

Anand joint second

NEW DELHI: Viswanathan Anand bounced back from the defeat in the blindfold game to win the rapid encounter and get even with former champion Russia’s Alexander Morozevich in the fifth round of the Amber blindfold and rapid chess at Nice, France, on Thursday.

When the action resumed after a day of rest, Anand got into trouble in the Meran Defence. Morozevich sacrificed a pawn and launched a very strong attack. Anand could not find the right defence and gave up after 29 moves.

Anand had his revenge once the players returned for their rapid game in French Defence. Anand trapped Morozevich’s knight and slowly tightened the grip. Morozevich resigned after 35 moves.

Meanwhile, Armenia’s Levon Aronian jumped into the sole lead after beating Ukraine’s Vassily Ivanchuk 1.5-0.5.

The results (fifth round):

Blindfold: Alexander Morozevich (Rus, 3) bt Viswanathan Anand (2); Peter Leko (Hun, 2.5) bt Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Aze, 1.5); Veselin Topalov (Bul, 3) drew with Vladimir Kramnik (Rus, 3); Magnus Carlsen (Nor, 3.5) bt Boris Gelfand (Isr, 1); Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukr, 3) drew with Levon Aronian (Arm, 2.5); Loek van Wely (Ned, 2.5) drew with Sergey Karjakin (Ukr, 2.5).

Rapid: Anand (3.5) bt Morozevich (1); Mamedyarov (2.5) drew with Leko (3); Kramnik (2.5) bt Topalov (8); Gelfand (2.5) drew with Carlsen (2); Aronian (4) bt Ivanchuk (2.5); Karjakin (2.5) bt van Wely (1.5).

Combined standings: 1. Aronian (6.5), 2-7 Kramnik, Topalov, Anand, Ivanchuk, Leko, Carlsen (5.5 each), 8. Karjakin (5), 9-11 Mamedyarov, Morozevich, Wely (4 each) and 12. Gelfand (3.5).