The Hindu : Sport / Chess : Anand shares lead after a win

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Tuesday, Mar 18, 2008
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Anand shares lead after a win

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 in the combined standings at three points.

Like in the first round against Kramnik, Anand drew the blindfold game and then scored with black in the rapid encounter.

Anand seemed to hold a slight advantage in the initial stages of the blindfold clash in Alekhine Defence with his advanced central pawn looking promising. Slowly, Mamedyarov clawed back into the game but Anand enjoyed more time on the clock. Anand offered a draw after 46 moves and Mamedyarov agreed.

Later in the rapid game, Anand held a firm grip in Sicilian Defence and won two pawns to gradually tighten the noose in 42 moves.

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).

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

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