Viswanathan Anand took a definite step towards a record fifth title at the Corus Grandmasters chess tournament with a convincing victory over Vassily Ivanchuk in the third round at the de Moriaan Hall in the Dutch seaside resort of Wijk Aan Zee. The Indian ace now has 2.5 points from three games and is the sole leader in the 14-man field.
Meanwhile India's Koneru Humpy, who scored a good victory over Ivan Cheparianov in the second round, lost to Arkadij Naditsch in the third of the Corus B tournament. Naditsch leads Group B with a dry 3/3 score.
On the third day of the year's first Super GM tournament, four of the seven games in Group A were decisive. NIIT Brand Ambassador Anand's fine win with black pieces over Ivanchuk was the key game of the day.
Ivanchuk, with white, decided to go for Anand after the Indian seemed to be in some trouble in the opening from an English Symetrical. Ivanchuk was better in the opening, but then he missed the best route and, in the process, began trying too hard. His 15h move Bxa6 spelt disaster for him. From there Anand tightened the noose and grabbed the full point as Ivanchuk's resistance crumbled very quickly.
Ivanchuk has two points; he is joined in second place by Topalov, who beat Bacrot's Petroff.
It came into a queen and pawn ending in which Topalov held all the cards. Boris Gelfand and Sergey Karjakin also won their games.
Sergey Karjakin scored his first win, defeating Gata Kamsky in a Sicilian Kan Variation. Kamsky's position deteriorated slowly and he eventually lost on time.
Boris Gelfand beat Michael Adams in a closed Catalan. Adams' position seemed uncomfortable out of the opening and Gelfand then grabbed a pawn. Adams, who beat Toplaov earlier found some counterplay but then collapsed in the moves running up to first time control.
Anand will have black pieces again against Ivan Sokolov in the fourth round.
Pairings for fourth round: Sokolov v Anand; Leko v Ivanchuk; Kamsky v Aronian; Adams v Karjakin; Bacrot v Gelfand; van Wely v Topalov; Mamedyarov v Tiviakov
Results Round 3: Topalov beat Bacrot; Ivanchuk lost to Anand; Gelfand beat Adams; Mamedyarov drew with Sokolov; Karjakin beat Kamsky; Aronian drew with Leko; Tiviakov drew with Van Wely.
Standings after Round 3: 1. Anand 2.5; 2. Topalov and Ivanchuk 2.0 each; 4. Adams, Gelfand, Mamedyarov, Leko, Bacrot, Van Wely and Karjakin 1.5 each; 11. Aronian, Sokolov, Tiviakov and Kamsky 1.0 each
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