Anand goes down to Topalov

With the victory, Topalov joined GM Vladimir Kramnik of Russia and GM Peter Leko of Hungary in the lead on 2 points.

Anand shares the 4-6 position with Alexander Morozevich and Michael Adams of England with one point each.

Playing black, it certainly was not Anand's day. It was an unusual French defence which Anand has not been used to for quite a while and Topalov was the first to seize the initiative with accurate timing and finely crafted manoeuvres.

The middle game phase approached with Anand holding on to his position but it was Topalov all along who strove for initiative. After a fiercely fought battle, the position was still not very clear but the experts felt it favoured Topalov.

Anand lost his right to castle early in the game and Topalov took full advantage of the opportunity by bringing his queen to the centrestage with a prophylactic plan.

By the 30th move, Anand was pushed to the wall and it became increasing difficult for him to handle the enormous pressure. He called it a day after 45 moves.

The other two games of the day were lacklustre and ended in draws.

Despite having the advantage of white pieces, GM Peter Leko could not do much in the Winawer variation of the French Defence against GM Alexander Morozevich.

By choosing a popular variation, Morozevich got the equaliser early in the game and the peace treaty was signed in just 19 moves.

Kramnik opened with the Sicilian Taimanov with black pieces against GM Michael Adams and equalised with a timely counter-attack on the king side without much ado.

The queens got traded on the 29th move and the draw result was never in doubt thereon. The formalities were completed on the 36th move.

Standings after round three:

1-3: V Kramnik, V Topalov, P Leko (2 points);
4-6: V Anand, A Morozevich, M Adams (1 point each).

Moves: V Anand vs V Topalov

1. e4 e6
2. d4 d5
3. Nc3 Nf6
4. Bg5 dxe4
5. Nxe4 Nbd7
6. Nf3 h6
7. Nxf6+ Nxf6
8. Bxf6 Qxf6
9. Bb5+ c6
10. Bd3 a6
11. c3 c5
12. Ne5 Bd6
13. Qe2 cxd4
14. cxd4 Bd7
15. O-O Qf4
16. g3 Qxd4
17. Nxd7 Kxd7
18. Qf3 Ke7
19. Qxb7+ Kf6
20. Rad1 Qa7
21. Qf3+ Ke7
22. Qg4 g5
23. Bc4 Qb6
24. Rd3 Rad8
25. Rf3 Be5
26. Re1 f6
27. Qh5 Qb4
28. Rxe5 Qxc4
29. Re1 Qxa2
30. Qg6 Rhf8
31. Qxh6 Qxb2
32. Qg7+ Rf7
33. Rxe6+ Kxe6
34. Re3+ Qe5
35. Rxe5+ fxe5
36. Qxg5 Rdf8
37. Qg4+ Kd5
38. Qd1+ Kc5
39. Qc2+ Kb4
40. Qb2+ Kc5
41. Qxe5+ Kb6
42. h4 a5
43. h5 Rd7
44. Qe6+ Kc7
45. h6 black resigned.