Third straight draw keeps Anand half point in front

The Indian GM employed the Spanish Opening, a novelty which he seldom uses these days, against his Hungarian opponent. Anand went for a new variation early on the 11th move but it did not quite work and he offered a draw.

Leko, who saw some advantage in his white pieces, however, declined the offer only to return the offer a few moves later which was accepted by Anand. Anand used less than 40 minutes for his 25 moves while Leko spent 90 minutes.

Sadler, who came close to beating Van Wely before drawing their fifth round game, could have caught up with Anand with a win.

In the sixth round today, Anand will face Adams, who scored a finewin over Peter Svidler (Russia) in the fifth round. The English GM, who had lost to compatriot Mathew Sadler earlier on, crushed Svidler with some excellent positional play.

Results (fifth round): V Anand (India) 3.5 points drew with P Leko (Hungary) 2.5, V Topalov (Bulgaria) 3 drew with V Kramnik (Russia) 2.5, M Adams (England) 3 bt P Svidler (Russia) 2, Van Wely (Netherlands) 3 drew with M Sadler (England) 3, J Piket (Netherlands) 2.5 bt J Lautier (France) 1, Viktor Korchnoi (Switzerland) 1.5 drew with Vadim Zviaginsev (Russia) 2.5 points.

Today’s games: V Anand vs M Adams, J Lautier vs V Zviaginsev, M Sadler vs V Korchnoi, P Svidler vs Van Wely, V Kramnik vs P Leko and J Piket vs V Topalov.

Humpy keeps joint lead

CASTELLON (SPAIN): India’s P Harikrishna led the Indian attack in the under-12 boys’ championship when he won from a English Opening against Shurgulaia G of Georgia in the fourth round of the World Youth chess championship at Hotel Marion Dor here today.

Eight otherIndians — D Sengupta (under-10 boys’), MR Venkatesh (under-16 boys’), Valay Parikh (under-14 boys’), Binesh Bhatia (under-18 boys’), Saheli Nath (under-10 girls’), K Humpy (under-12 girls’), Tanya Sachdeva (under-12 girls’) and Preeti (under-14 girls’) won in the fourth round.

Harikrishna had a slight plus in the opening but managed to get a king side attack and won two bishops for rook and the game in 45 moves.

Humpy maintained her joint lead by winning against Dragnidzen of Georgia from a English Opening. By excellent tactical play, Humpy won the exchange and the game in 70 moves.

Under-10: D Sengupta bt Ladanyiz (Hungary), Abhijit Gupta lost to Zihalka S (Belorussia)

Other results

Boys’ Under-18: Beenish Bhatia bt Verlaine A (Luxembourg). Under-16: MR Venkatesh bt Kafka G (Scotland). Under-14: Valay Parikh bt Savic A (Croatia).

Girls’ Under-18: R Aarthi lost to Shelclon R (England). Under-16: Y Prathibha drew with Chorun P (Bulgaria). Under-12: TanyaSachdev bt Eva K (Estonia). Under-10: Saheli Nath bt Daskkevich N (Ukraine).