World champion Viswanathan Anand [Images] recovered to beat Russian Alexander Morozevich in the rapid game of the fifth round to leap to joint second spot in the Amber Blindfold and Rapid chess tournament in Nice, France [Images].

Anand had suffered his second defeat on the trot in the blindfold game in the fifth round but did well to win the rapid game to make the scoreline 1-1 in the two-game mini-match against Morozevich.

This was Anand's third straight loss to Morozevich in a blindfold game since 2006 in the same event when it was held in Monaco. On both the earlier occasions, Anand had lost in blindfold after drawing the rapid game but this time the Indian did well to tie the match after being a point down.

The victory in the rapid game helped Anand recover some lost ground as he elevated himself to joint second position on 5.5 points in combined standings.

Armenian Levon Aronian continued with his winning ways and downed Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine 1.5-0.5 to jump to sole lead on 6.5 points.

Anand is also second behind Aronian in the rapid section but in blindfold, the Indian will need a huge repaid job as he is currently on 10th spot.

The tournament is being played on a round robin format between 12 players and there is one blindfold and one rapid game in each round.

Playing the white side of French defence in the return game, Anand outplayed Morozevich right from early middle game.

Anand, playing the Winawer variation, got a typical bind and after the trading of queens won a pawn with ease. Morozevich conceded the match after 35 moves.

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