Anand bounces back

In the seventh, Anand white beat Russia8217;s Evgeny Bareev, who could not get much from a knight8217;s sacrifice in the 18th move.

Anand notched up his second successive win when he defeated Israel8217;s Boris Gelfand in the 8th round. Gelfand sacrificed two knights for a rook and a pawn in a Sicilian defence game but lost in 45 moves.

The ninth round saw Anand draw with Svidler in Apetroff8217;s defence game after the Russian forced an exchange of queens.

Svidler had earlier beaten Alon Greenfeld in the 6th round, Boris Avrukh in the 7thand drew with Huzman in the eighth.

Results

Round 6: A Huzman drew with V Anand, P Svidler bt A Greenfeld, B Gelfand bt E Bareev, B Avrukh bt L Psakhis. Round 7: B Avrukh lost to P Svidler, B Gelfand bt L Psakhis, V Anand bt E Bareev, A Greenfeld drew with A Huzman. Round 8: V Anand bt B Gelfand, E Bareev lost to B Avrukh, L Psakhis bt A Greenfeld, P Svidler drew with A Huzman. Round 9: P Svidler bt V Anand, A Huzman lost to L Psakhis, B Avrukh drew with B Gelfand, E Bareev bt A Greenfeld

Standings

1. Peter svidler Rus, 7 2. Viswanathan Anand Ind, 6 3. Boris Gelfand Isr, 5.5 4-5. Alexander Huzman, Lev Psakhis Isr, 4 each 6-7. Boris Avrukh, Alon Greenfeld Isr, 3.5 each 8. Evgeny Bareev Rus, 2.5.