Anand in joint lead after second-round win
MOSCOW — Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand crashed through the defences of Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan to go into joint lead after the end of the second round of 10th Tal Memorial chess tournament here.
Anand tackled a dangerous attack on his king and made excellent use of his first white pieces in the tournament. The game lasted 52 moves.
Anish Giri of Holland and Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia joined Anand in the lead. Giri got the better of Boris Gelfand of Israel, while Nepomniachtchi played out a draw with fellow countryman Peter Svidler.
The other two games of the day were also drawn — Russian Vladimir Kramnik failed to break the ice against China’s Li Chao, while Russian Evgeny Tomashevsky was satisfied with opening his account against Levon Aronian of Armenia after a disastrous first round.
With seven rounds to go in the $2,00,000 prize money tournament, Nepomniachtchi, Giri and Anand have 1.5 points apiece. They are followed by Kramnik, Li Chao, Aronian and Svidler at one-point apiece. Tomashevsly, Gelfand and Mamedyarov share the eighth spot with half a point.
Anand will meet Li Chao in the next round.
Source: http://www.espn.in