Anand slips to third position

Kasparov8217;s domination of the tournament was apparent in his game against Ivanchuk. Ivanchuk accepted the queen8217;s gambit offered by Kasparov, improving the latter8217;s position. A good bishop move on the 12th bc2 followed by 13.D5 put kasparov in firm control.

With Kasparov8217;s bishops dominating, a tense Ivanchuk, though he could have managed a draw, resigned on the 36th move to everyone8217;s surprise.

Svidler, playing black, could not break Kramnik8217;s stranglehold on a grunfeld game. After attempting to salvage it by sacrificing a rook for a bishop, he resigned after the 33rd move.

The result made Kramnik the only player apart from Kasparov to have scored more than one win, while for Svidler, it was the fourth successive loss.

Michael Adams, not his usual self in the earlier rounds, drew with Veselin Topalov in 24 moves of a Sicilian-Najdorf. In the tenth round, to be held after a rest day, Anand will play with white pieces against Kasparov, who has won all his four games with black pieces.

Ivanchuk will meet Kramnik, Svidler takes on Adams and Topalov will be up against Leko.

Results ninth round:Kramnik 5.5 bt Svidler 3, Kasparov 7 bt Ivanchuk 3, Leko 4 drew with Anand 5, Adams 4.5 drew with Topalov 4.