Anand in fine form in Mexico

Vishy Anand moved into the joint lead position at the II Torneo Magistral of Chess at Merida, Mexico, with a brilliant tactical win over Mexican Grandmaster Gilberto Hernandez in the second round. Anand now shares the lead with Nigel Short, on 1.5 points apiece, followed by former FIDE world champion Alexander Khalifman and Hernandez on 0.5 points apiece.

Anand used the Sicilian Defence against his opponent's king pawn move with white, and the game moved into the closed variation which Anand disrupted as early as move ten with an interesting pawn sacrifice.

Though it wasn't immediatley obvious, Anand had figured out a way to push the advantage, following up an exchange of his bishop for knight to push the game into a sequence of forced moves. Though down materially, Anand played a brilliant game to move into a very strong position. And once he grabbed the initiative, the Indian grandmaster never relinquished it, forcing his opponent to play to his tune till the inevitable ending on move 48.

In another game, Short defeated Khalifman to share the lead with Anand.

White: G Hernandez
Black: V Anand
Closed Sicilian

1. e4 c5, 2. Nc3 d6, 3. f4 Nc6, 4. Nf3 g6, 5. Bc4 Bg7, 6. 0-0 Nf6, 7. d3 0-0, 8. Bb3 Nd4, 9. Qe1 a5, 10. Qh4 a4, 11. Bxa4 Bg4, 12. Rb1 Bxf3, 13. gxf3 Rxa4, 14. Nxa4 b5, 15. Nc3 Qa5, 16. a3 b4, 17. Nd1 Nxc2, 18. Qf2 b3, 19. Ne3 Qa4, 20. Kh1 Nd7, 21. Nc4 Rb8, 22. f5 Nb6, 23. Nxb6 Rxb6, 24. fxg6 hxg6, 25. Bg5 Rb7, 26. Qe2 Qc6, 27. Rg1 d5, 28. Rg2 Rd7, 29. h4 Nd4, 30. Qe3 c4, 31. dxc4 dxc4, 32. h5 Qe6, 33. hxg6 fxg6, 34. Rg4 Nc2, 35. Qc5 Be5, 36. Rbg1 Kf7, 37. Rh4 Rc7, 38. Qf2 Bxb2, 39. Qh2 Rb7, 40. Rh7+ Ke8, 41. Rd1 Bd4, 42. Rh8+ Kd7, 43. Ra8 b2, 44. Qh8 Kc6, 45. Qe8+ Qd7, 46. Qxg6+ e6, 47. Ra6+ Kb5, 48. Rxe6 Qh7+ 0-1.