Anand’s troubles with white continue

Shirov, former FIDE world champion Anatoly Karpov of Russia and Bulgarian GM Vaselin Topolov emerged joint leaders with 4.5 points apiece in this 12-player double round robin event.

Karpov and Topalov blanked GM Joel Lautier of France and GM Predrag Nikolic of Bosnia respectively to join Shirov, who led with Russian-born Israeli Boris Gelfand, after two rounds.

In other games, defending champion Vladimir Kramnik drew 1-1 with Ukrainian Vassily Ivanchuk and was placed fourth while Gelfand went down 0.5-1.5 to Dutchman Jeroen Piket and slipped to fifth.

Disaster struck Anand in the rapid. He employed his pet Winawar Variation to be countered with the French defence and pinned Shirov down soon after the opening moves. The middlegame witnessed a spectacular piece sacrifice by Anand on the 20th move that ripped open Shirov’s king side.

But just when mate on Shirov’s King looked imminent, Anand fumbled and missed 28 Nf3, which would have given him an overwhelming position. As Shirov managed to enter an ending after Anand’s error, a typical case of chess blindness occurred and the Indian resigned immediately.

In blindfold, Shirov opened with the King pawn and faced the Caro-Kann defence. In the Advance Variation, Shirov managed to get a minor advantage after the opening but timely exchange of pieces by Anand steered the game to a rook and bishop versus rook and knight endgame and draw was agreed after 50 moves.

Playing with white pieces, Karpov showed his prowess in the rooks endgame and marched his passed King pawn to glory in the blindfold game that lasted 93 moves.

In rapid, Lautier appeared clueless about the intricacies of Queen’s Indian Defence and allowed two connected passed pawns soon after the opening. The resulting position required precise manoeuvering and Karpov did the needful to score full points.

Topalov had an easy outing against Nikolic in both games. Playing black side of Modern Benoni in rapid, Topalov went for a thematic exchange sacrifice and obtained overwhelming attack against the King while in blindfold, a direct attack with the help of his knights proved sufficient.

Overall standings (after three rounds): 1-3 Karpov, Topalov, Shirov 4.5; 4-5 Kramnik, Gelfand 3.5; 6-7 Anand, Vaan Wely 3; 8-9 Piket, Ivanchuk 2.5; 10 Ljubojevic 2, 11 Nikolic 1.5; 12 Lautier 1.