Anand one step away from title

That is an uphill task for the Latvia-born Shirov who is up against world8217;s No. 2 player enjoying one of the best years of his career.

All that the Indian Grandmaster needs is a draw in one of the two games to clinch his seventh chess classic title and fifth in a row.

Shirov, the author of bestseller 8216;Fire on board8217;, could not quite ignite the tactical complexities he was hoping for and was outclassed by Anand in all departments of the game.

It was another Ruy Lopez, certainly the favoured opening of this match by both players, featuring for the fifth time in six games played so far.

Playing White, Anand repeated the variation he played in a previous game and his home work came good as Shirov fell in to a positional trick leading to material loss.

With clinical precision, Anand won an exchange and did not give any chance thereafter. The game lasted just 30 moves.

8216;8216;I am delighted with this result8217;8217;, said Anand after the game. The fifth game was more enterprising from Shirov8217;s perspective but his hunt for the elusive victory just doesn8217;t seem to end in this match. Anand on his part did well to keep his pieces active and the routine exchanges led to end game in which Anand was forced to part with a pawn.

Shirov had problems in keeping pace with Anand. Yet he fell behind on the clock. The draw was agreed to after 43 moves when Shirov ended up giving perpetual checks.

8216;8216;Shirov defended very well and in fact in the end I had to be little bit careful which I think I managed and I was within drawing distance,8217;8217; observed Anand.

In the chess 960 match being organised simultaneously, Levon Aronian held Peter Svidler of Russia twice to keep the scores level on 3-3 after six games.