Anand wins Merida title

Anand tallied 4.5 points out of a possible six with three victories and three draws. Short finished second on 3.5 points followed by former world champion Alexander Khalifman of Russia on three points. Local favourite Gilberto Hernandez had to be content with the last place on one point.

Anand scored the maximum number of victories in the tournament and was the only undefeated player in the field of four grandmasters.

The last round match was drawn in mere 28 moves after a reasonable fight. Anand, playing black, opened with the Caro Kann defence to counter the King pawn advance by Short on the first move.

The game took shape in the two Knights variation with Short gaining an early but miniscule advantage, thanks to his Bishop pair. Slow manoeuvring ensued but Short, who needed a win to catch up with Anand in tournament standing, did not get anything worthwhile to improve his position.

On the 14th move, Anand struck in the centre decisively and the pieces got exchanged in a tandem thereon. Short had to part with his long diagonal Bishop in the process and his chances diminished slowly.

The players arrived at a Rook and minor piece endgame soon and Anand's centralised king helped him contain white from making any penetration along the 7th or 8th rank.

Short's light square Bishop was reduced to a mere spectator as Anand's Knight and strong pawn chain did not allow it to gain ground. The draw was agreed to on 28th move.

Khalifman's chances of finishing second suffered a setback as Hernandez regained his form to launch a dangerous attack against the Russian in the Pirc defence game and held him to a draw.

Khalifman, playing black, looked faster on the King side in the Austrain attack and gobbled two pawns with his Queen in the opposition camp. It was just in time that Hernandez rolled his pieces on the King side and though his pieces co-ordinated perfectly, mate was not forthcoming as Khalifman had his Knights posted on key central squares.

However, with all white pieces out to get his king, Khalifman decided against putting white's ominous position to test and took a draw vide repetition of moves.

PTI

Round 6
Nigel Short vs Vishwanathan Anand: 0.5:0.5
1. e4 c6 2. Cf3 d5 3. Cc3 Ag4 4. h3 Axf3 5. Dxf3 e6 6. Ae2 Cf6 7. O-O dxe4 8. Cxe4 Cxe4 9. Dxe4 Cd7 10. d4 Cf6 11. De3 Ad6 12. c4 O-O 13. b3 De7 14. a3 e5 15. Ab2 Tfe8 16. dxe5 Axe5 17. Axe5 Dxe5 18. Dxe5 Txe5 19. Af3 Rf8 20. Tfd1 Tae8 21. b4 Re7 22. Rf1 Td8 23. c5 Td7 24. h4 h6 25. Txd7 Rxd7 26. Td1 Rc7 27. Td4 a5 28. g3

Round 6
Gilberto Hernandez vs Alexander Khalifman 0.5:05
1. e4 g6 2. d4 Ag7 3. Cc3 d6 4. f4 Cf6 5. Cf3 c5 6. Ab5 Ad7 7. Axd7 Cfxd7 8. d5 b5 9. De2 b4 10. Cd1 Cb6 11. O-O O-O 12. Cf2 Dc8 13. f5 Da6 14. De1 C8d7 15. Cg4 Cf6 16. Ch6 Axh6 17. Axh6 Tfe8 18. fxg6 hxg6 19. Cg5 Cbd7 20. Tf4 Dc4 21. Dh4 Dxc2 22. Taf1 Dxb2 23. Dh3 Dc3 24. g3 Ce5 25. Th4 De3 26. Rh1 De2 27. Rg1 De3 28. Rh1 De2 29. Rg1 De3