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Rediff.com  » Sports » Anand outplays Carlsen, takes sole lead

Anand outplays Carlsen, takes sole lead

March 05, 2007 12:35 IST
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Viswanathan Anand returned to his winning ways scoring a comprehensive win over young Norwegian Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen to take sole lead after ten rounds of the Morelia - Linares Super Grandmasters chess tournament.

Anand handed young Carlsen his second lesson in as many clashes after having beaten him in the first leg in Morelia, Mexico also.

Anand is now a full one point ahead of the second placed Carlsen and Vassily Ivanchuk.

The win from a Ruy Lopez opening came in just 38 moves and underlined Anand's superior play and experience. It was Anand's fourth win in 10 rounds.

Apart from two wins over Carlsen, Anand also has wins in Morelia over Leko and Morozevich, both of whom he still has to meet in Linares. Anand's sole loss has been against Lev Aronian.

The other three games in round 10 were all drawn.

Peter Leko got into trouble with the white pieces against Veselin Topalov, but managed to salvage a draw in a long-drawn Sicilian Najdorf lasting 84 moves.

The Anand-Carlsen game was in Ruy Lopez and Anand used on his 14th move, b4, something which Leko introduced two months ago. But it was on the 17th, that Anand introduced his own novelty with 17. Bb3.

Anand had a better-placed bishop and sought to spoil Black's queenside coordination.

Carlsen failed to see a chance to get into the game that could afford him at least a draw. He seemed to have underestimated the danger.

He left the kingside without defenders. Anand capitalized on this and gave a piece for excellent compensation. Thereafter Black (Carlsen) was in trouble and finally resigned on the 38th move before the first time control.

Ivanchuk and Svidler drew in 44 moves of another Ruy Lopez and Aronian and Morozevich drew in 29 moves of an anti-Meran and Leko got a draw against Topalov in 84 moves.

The tournament is being played in two legs in Morelia, Mexico and Linares, Spain. The first leg had seven rounds and it will be the same in second leg, too.

Pairing for round 11: Aronian v Leko; Morozevich v Anand; Carlsen v Ivanchuk; Svidler v Topalov

Results of Round 10: Anand beat Carlsen; Ivanchuk drew with Svidler; Aronian drew with Morozevich; Leko drew with Topalov

Standings after Round 10: 1. Anand 6.5; 2. Ivanchuk and Carlsen 5.5; 4. Svidler and Aronian 5.0; 6. Topalov 4.5; 7. Leko and Morozevich 4.0

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