Wydra high for Anand

Israel8217;s Boris Gelfand and Peter Svidler of Russia finished second and third respectively on progressive scores after the two tied at nine points each, followed by Lev Psakhis of Isreal at the fourth spot with 7.5 points.

The world number two Indian beat Boris Avrukh in 32 moves of a Sicilian game in 10th round, was held to a draw by Psakhis in 16 moves of another Sicilian and by Alon Greenfeld in 54 moves of Ruy Lopez in the next two rounds. He then won his 13th round aginstAlexander Huzman of Israel.

Requiring just half a point to retain the title in the 14th and final round, Anand, playing with black, did just that with a 22-move draw against Evgeny Bareev of Russia.

Results: Round 10: Anand bt Avrukh, Psakhis bt Svidler, Gelfand bt Greenfeld, Bareev lost to Huzman. Round 11: Psakhis drew with Anand, Huzman drew with Gelfand, Greenfeld lost to Avrukh, Svidler drew with Bareev. Round 12: Anand drew with Greenfeld, Gelfand bt Svidler, Bareev lost to Psakhis, Avrukh drew with Huzman. Round 13: Anand bt Huzman, Greenfeld drew with Svidler, Gelfand lost to Bareev, Psakhis drew with Avrukh. Round 14: Huzman drew with Greenfeld, Bareev drew with Anand, Psakhis lost to Gelfand, Svidler bt Avrukh.

Final placings: 1. V Anand Ind 9.5/14, 2-3 B Gelfand Isr, P Svidler Rus 9 each, 4. L Psakhis isr 7, 5. A Huzman Isr 6.5, 6. B Avrukh Isr 5.5, 7. A Greenfeld Isr 5, 8. E Bareev Rus 4.5.