Anand drops to third position

MUMBAI, JANUARY 25: Title favourite Garry Kasparov improved his chances in the Corus Super Grandmaster chess in Wijk Aan Zee on Tuesday, s...

MUMBAI, JANUARY 25: Title favourite Garry Kasparov improved his chances in the Corus Super Grandmaster chess in Wijk Aan Zee on Tuesday, scoring an impressive win with white pieces over Jan Timman Netherlands in the ninth round. The win placed the Russian as sole leader 6.5 points for the first time in the tournament, and took him one point adrift of challenger Anand Viswanathan of India.

Anand 5.5 dropped to joint third on the table after he was held to a draw by Englishman Michael Adams, according to information available here. Overnight joint leader Vladimir Kramnik of Russia was in second place with six points, a half point from a draw with Jeroen Piket added to his overnight tally. Four rounds are left in this Category-18 event.

Among other results, the world8217;s top woman player Judit Polgar drew fellow Hungarian Peter Leko, while Predrag Nikolic of Bosnia defeated Viktor Korchnoi.

In Monday8217;s eighth round, Anand had rallied from an inferior position to draw against Dutch Leok Van Wely. Anandemployed the tournament favourite English Attack with white pieces to counter the Sicilian of Van Wely.

In the early middlegame Van Wely struck upon an ingenious plan and sacrificed two pawns to enter a double rook and opposite colour bishop endgame.

The World No 2 arrived at a position when a breakthrough by him on the queenside would have had a dangerous effect as Van Wely8217;s pieces were better placed. The players decided to call it a day on Anand8217;s proposal after 34 moves.

Results 9th round: J Polgar Hun, 3 drew P Leko Hun, 5.5; V Korchnoi Swiss, 3 lost to P Nikolic Bosnia, 4.5; G Kasparov Russia, 6.5 bt J Timman Ned, 4; M Adams Eng, 5 drew V Anand Ind, 5.5; V Kramnik Russia, 6 drew J Piket Ned, 5; A Morozevich Russia, 5 drew N Short Eng, 4. Matches in progress: L Van Wely vs S Lputian.

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Results 8th round: V Anand Ind, 5 drew L Van Wely Ned, 2; J Piket Ned, 4.5 drew A Morozevich Rus, 4.5; N Short Eng, 3.5 lost to M Adams Eng, 4.5; SLputian Arm, 3 drew G Kasparov Rus, 5.5; P Leko Hun, 5 drew V Kramnik Rus, 5.5; J Timman Ned, 4 drew V Korchnoi Swi, 3; P Nikolic Bos, 3.5 drew J Polgar Hun, 2.5.