Anand takes sole lead at World Chess

Viswanathan Anand cruised into sole lead at the World Chess Championships with a beautiful victory over Russian Peter Svidler in the fifth round in Mexico City.

Anand won in 39 moves, right before the first time control and it gave him his second win of the tournament, following the first over Lev Aronian earlier on. He now has 3.5 points and is half a point ahead of Vladimir Kramnik, who drew his game with Peter Leko as neither player had a winning chance.

There were two surprises in Alexander Grishchuk and Boris Gelfand as they scored fine wins to climb into shared second spot with Kramnik.

Three of the four games produced results with white scoring wins and only Kramnik was unable to get a result with a draw against Peter Leko.

Grischuk trounced Alexander Morozevich in a 41-move game in Queen's gambit declined, while Gelfand handed Aronian his second defeat of the tournament in 48 moves following a Catalan start. Leko and Kramnik drew in just 24 moves from Bishop's Opening.

Against the Russian Svidler, India's Anand started as clear favourite. But at this level with players trying to put in their best and coming in with a lot of preparation, nothing could be certain. Svidler with black showed tremendous fighting abilities.

He adopted the Marshall and Anand trying to gain some advantage played an unusual move order to try and fox Svidler.

With Anand (White) opening on the Q-side to deflect Black's pressure in the centre, there were severe complications, in which Anand played incisively on both flanks.

Svidler was clearly in a bind as he was unable to focus and find a way out of the problems. It is a tribute to Anand's clarity on board and his ability to maneuver a game in such a manner to keep the opponent in the trouble zone. Ultimately Svidler resigned before the first time control.

Svidler admitted that the game was so complicated that he could not think clearly in the last 20 minutes. At the same time, he gave full marks for a splendid game from Anand.

Anand had prepared very well and also managed his time well. That is indeed a hallmark of Anand.

Anand also agreed that the game was unbelievably complicated and said that he may have missed a win earlier, but in the end with a full point in his kitty, it did not matter.

Anand v Svidler, Round 5:
1.e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 12. Re1 Bd6 13. g3 Bf5 14. d4 Qd7 15. Be3 Rae8 16. Nd2 Bg4 17. Qc2 Bf5 18. Qc1 Re7 19. Nf3 Bg4 20. Nh4 Rfe8 21. Qd2 h6 22. Qd3 g6 23. Bd1 Bh3 24. Bf3 g5 25. Ng2 Bf5 26. Qd1 Nf6 27. a4 Ne4 28. axb5 axb5 29. Ra6 Qb7 30. Qa1 Bc8 31. Ra8 Bb8 32. Bc1 Nf6 33. Rxe7 Rxe7 34. Qa3 Rd7 35. Ra5 Ba7 36. Ne3 Qc7 37. Nf5 c5 38. Nxh6+ Kh7 39. Bxg5 1-0

Pairings for Round 6 : Aronian v Kramnik; Gelfand v Morozevich; Grischuk v Svidler; Leko, Peter v Anand

Results of Round 5: Anand beat Svidler; Grischuk beat Morozevich; Leko drew with Kramnik; Gelfand beat Aronian

Standings after Round 5: 1. Anand 3.5; 2. Kramnik, Grischuk and Gelfand 3.0; 5. Leko, Aronian and Morozevich 2.0; 8. Svidler 1.5