World Champion Viswanathan Anand of INDIA maintained his slender half point lead after playing an eventful draw with former world champion Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria in the sixth round of the Morelia-Linares chess tournament.
Anand took his tally to four points out of a possible six after the end of the penultimate round of the event and is likely to play the second half at Linares as a leader when it begins in the Spanish hamlet on February 29th.
In the final round at Morelia, Anand meets Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine.
It was a game with wild complexities between Topalov and Anand. Playing white the Bulgarian went for a fashionable variation against Anand`s Nimzo Indian defense and the middle game that ensued ensured a keen tussle.
Topalov was able to open up black`s kind side after a couple of pawns and a set of minor pieces changed hands but soon after Anand was in his element in working out the country play. Topalov tried to attack on the slightly weakened king side but that was neutralised by Anand`s counter play around the center.
With eight rounds still to come, Aronian remained in sole second spot on 3.5 points while Radjabov eclipsed Carlsen from the joint third spot to share it now with Shirov and Topalov on 3 points each. Sharing the joint sixth spot now are Carlsen, Leko and Ivanchuk who all have 2.5 points in their kitty. Double bishops in chess are considered an excellent weapon when they spit fire in an open position. MAGNUC Carlsen learned it the hard way against Radjabov.
Ivanchuk and Shirov battled out for just 28 moves before sharing the point in a queen pawn opening while Leko mustered enough counter attack on the queen side at the expense of a pawn to keep Aronian at bay in an English opening game.
The game was drawn after 50 moves. Congratulations to Anand once again.
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