Anand back on track with win

After a rather sedate start, Viswanathan Anand struck back with two victories against Teimour Radjabov of Azerbaijan in the second round of Amber Blindfold and Rapid chess tournament here.

The Indian ace, who had lost to arch-rival Alexander Morozevich of Russia in the first round by a margin of 0.5-1.5, displayed top form in outwitting Radjabov in the blindfold game and later won an intense rapid game to come back into the reckoning for his sixth title here.

World champion Vladimir Kramnik of Russia and Levon Aronian of Armenia emerged as joint leaders in the overall standings on 3.5 points apiece and Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine is now following them a half-point behind. Anand is in joint fourth spot along with Morozevich on 2.5 points.