Anand Beats Leko, In Lead at Moscow

World champion Viswanathan Anand scored his second straight win with the white pieces to join Vladimir Kramnik in the lead after five rounds in the Tal Memorial Category 21 Tournament at Moscow on November 10.

Anand had drawn all his black games and won with the white so far. In the Anti-Meran Gambit, Anand outclassed Leko in the queen and rook ending. When he was about to lose his second pawn in a queen ending, Leko resigned with the black pieces.

Anand and Kramnik are leading the 10-player single all play all with 3.5/5 after scoring two victories apiece.

Kramnik impressed and came close to winning his third game. Having perched a pawn on the seventh rank, he failed to convert a better position. He landed in a rook ending with the black pieces. Gelfand was able to draw the three versus four rook and pawn ending with pawns on the same side after 81 moves.

Teenaged prodigy, Carlsen remained quiet with a 31-move draw against Ivanchuk. Neither side tried to win the game. There are still four rounds to go in this average 2764 Elo tournament. Anand still has to face Carlsen, Aronian, Morozevich and Gelfand.

The results (round five): V. Anand (Ind) 3.5 bt P. Leko (Hun) 1.5, L. Aronian (Arm) 3 drew with A. Morozevich (Rus) 2, V. Ivanchuk (Ukr) 2.5 drew with M. Carlsen (Nor) 2.5, B. Gelfand (Isr) 2.5 drew with V. Kramnik (Rus) 3.5, P. Svidler (Rus) 1.5 drew with R. Ponomariov (Ukr) 2.5.