Viswanathan Anand needs just a draw to grab the World Chess Championship following a tenacious draw against Alexander Grischuk of Russia on Friday.
The Indian Grandmaster held on in a tense game despite being a pawn down and maintained a one-point lead with just one round to go.
A draw against Peter Leko in the final round will give Anand the title.
Peter Leko alone scored a victory in the 13th round while the other three games ended in draws.
Gelfand and Kramnik, who have been Anand's closest rivals, played a 26-move draw from a Queen's Gambit Meran, while Lev Aronian drew with Peter Svidler in 46 moves of English Four Knights opening.
Leko scored in just 33 moves from a Sicilian Rauzer attack against Morozevich in another game.
Starting off with black pieces in an Anti-Meran Gambit, which was seen frequently in the championship, Anand used his favourite Leningrad variation. This was the line he used to win the second round game against Aronian. Knowing that Grischuk might go for known preparations, Anand went for a sharp line, and even took risks.
He went for a completely different line, even sharper than line that he used in the game against Aronian, leading to an exciting game. Grischuk took on the challenge. A very exciting player at times, he managed a slighter better position and as the game progressed got a better grip on the game.
Into the mid-game, Anand needed a lot of effort to get a draw. He ensured active play despite losing a pawn to keep his chances for a draw alive. As the game passed the first time control, it was clear Grischuk was in with a great winning chance that could throw the World Championship open again.
But the outcome of the game depended on Grischuk's ability to find a winning plan. Black rook on the b-file was surely annoying and gave king a chance of protecting kingside pawns. Anand hung on to b-file with his rook and kept stalling white (Grischuk).
The NIIT-Brand Ambassador hung in tenaciously to save the game and keep the full point advantage ahead of Gelfand.
Pairings for final round (Round 14): Anand v Leko; Kramnik v Aronian; Morozevich v Gelfand; Svidler v Grischuk
Results of Round 13: Gelfand drew with Kramnik; Leko beat Morozevich; Aronian drew with Svidler; Grischuk drew with Anand.
Round 12 Standings: 1. Anand 8.5; 2. Gelfand 7.5; 3. Kramnik 7.0; 4. Leko 6.5; 5. Aronian 6.0; 6. Grischuk, Svidler and Morozevich 5.5
Grischuk v Anand
Round 13
1.d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 dxc4 7. e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5 9. Be2 Bb7 10. h4 g4 11. Ne5 Rg8 12. Nxg4 Nxg4 13. Bxg4 b4 14. Na4 c5 15. d5 exd5 16. exd5 Qxd5 17. Qxd5 Bxd5 18. O-O-O Rxg4 19. Rxd5 Nd7 20. Re1+ Kd8 21. Red1 Rd4 22. R1xd4 cxd4 23. Rxd4 Rc8 24. Bd6 Ke8 25. Re4+ Kd8 26. Bxf8 Nxf8 27. a3 bxa3 28. bxa3 Rc6 29. Nb2 Rf6 30. Re2 c3 31. Nd1 Ra6 32. Ra2 Ng6 33. g3 Rc6 34. Kc2 Ne7 35. Nxc3 Nd5 36. Kd3 Rxc3+ 37. Kd4 a5 38. Kxd5 a4 39. Kd4 Rb3 40. Kc4 Kc8 41. Rc2 Kd7 42. Rc3 Rb2 43. Rf3 Ke6 44. g4 Ke7 45. Kd5 Rb3 46. Ke4 Rb2 47. Kf5 Rb5+ 48. Kf4 Kf6 49. Rd3 Rb2 50. f3 Ra2 51. Ke4 Rh2 52. Rd4 Rxh4 53. Rxa4 Rh1 54. Rb4 Ra1 55. a4 Kg6 56. Kd5 Ra3 57. Kc6 Rxf3 58. a5 f5 59. a6 Ra3 60. gxf5+ Kxf5 61. Kb6 h5 62. Rb5+ Kg4 63. Ra5 Rf3 64. a7 Rf8 65. a8=Q Rxa8 66. Rxa8 h4 67. Kc5 h3 68. Kd4 h2 69. Rh8 Kg3 70. Ke3 Kg2 71. Rg8+ Kf1 72. Rh8 Kg1 73. Rxh2 Kxh2 1/2-1/2
