By IANS,
Mainz : World champion Viswanathan Anand ended the first day of the Chess Classic of Mainz with a fine win over Alexander Morozevich to take a share of the lead in the Grenkeleasing Rapid Rorld championship.
Anand shared the lead with Magnus Carlsen after three rounds with two points from a maximum of three. Anand, who has won 10 times in Mainz, was unable to use the white pieces to adavantage in the first round against Norwegian teen Carlsen as they drew in 37 moves of Sicilian Modern Dragon.
In the second round, Anand with white was again held to a draw by the world’s strongest- ever woman player Judit Polgar of Hungary in a long drawn 61 move Sicilian Paulsen.
Then it was with black that Anand struck beating the World No. 2 in 48 moves in yet another Sicilian game, which was in the Najdorf variation.
The players will play another three rounds on the second day and at the end of which the best two will fight it out for the title. The games are being played on a rapid chess format with 20 minutes to each player and a 5 second increment after every move is made.
The time rate is 20 minutes plus 5 seconds a move and in case of a play-off, the games will be played over five minutes plus 5 seconds a move.
While the top two will play a final match, there will also be a match for third place.
While Moorzevich’s win over Polgar was the only result of the first two rounds, the third saw both matches producing results. Morozevich lost to Anand and Polgar lost to Carlsen.
Results:
Round 1: Anand drew with Carlsen; Polgar lost to Morozevich
Round 2: Anand drew with Polgar; Carlsen drew with Morozevich
Round 3: Morozevich lost to Anand; Polgar lost to Carlsen
Points:
Anand and Carlsen 2 points each; Morozevich 1.5 points; Polgar 0.5