Viswanathan Anand scored a thumping victory against Peter Leko of Hungary and caught Peter Svidler of Russia on second spot after the 12th round in the World Chess Championship San Luis, Argentina.
The second victory on the trot also helped Anand move closer to championship leader Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria after the latter took a quick draw as white against Svidler.
The other two games of the day also ended in draws with Michael Adams of England signing peace with Rustam Kasimdzhanov of Uzbekisan and Russian Alexander Morozevich failing to breach the solid defenses of Hungarian Judit Polgar.
With only two rounds remaining after the final rest day today in the one million dollar event, it appears that Topalov (9 points) has decided to take things easy. The Bulgarian is now just two draws away from the World championship title.
Anand and Svidler are tied second at this stage with 7.5 points apiece and the race for the second spot is likely to heat up in the remaining rounds.
A very distant fourth is Alexander Morozevich who is on 6 points and Leko and Kasimdzhanov hold the fifth spot together on 5 points apiece. Adams is next in line on 4.5 while Polgar is at the bottom of the list with 3.5 points.
Theoretically, Anand can still catch up with Topalov but for that the Bulgarian must lose at least one of the last two games and draw the other while Anand will have to beat Morozevich and Svidler in the last two rounds.
World champion this time or not, Anand was in top form against Leko.
The Hungarian is in dire straits here and obviously wanted to use his white pieces for the good but as the event unfolded he was left completely dejected.
Anand chose the Petroff defense, an opening known to give the black player a level position with deep preparation. Leko perhaps sensed that it was coming but his choice of complications led to disaster.
Once into the middle game with Leko's King appearing weaker than Anand, the Indian ace concentrated his efforts on the queen side and swept a couple of pawns.
Leko did not get any real counter play anywhere on the board and after the trading of queens it was a cakewalk. The Hungarian resisted for sometime but was forced to call it a day when checkmate became imminent. The game lasted 53 moves giving Anand his second victory as black in the event after he beat Polgar in round one with the slightly unfavourable colour.
Topalov played it safe and fine against Svidler who could do little with his black pieces. Having done the hard work earlier, the Bulgarian was certainly content to do just the needful in the remaining rounds.
It was an Anti Marshall where Topalov had a slightly better prospect when he just proposed the truce Svidler could not refuse.
The shortest game of the day lasted just 21 moves.
Morozevich showed his keenness to an intense battle and surprised everyone by going for the Van Geet opening on the first move against Polgar.
However just a few moves later the players found themselves in a Sicilian Nazdorf vide transposition and even though Morozevich stood better for the major part of the game, Polgar was intent enough to not let the game go completely out of hand.
Routine exchanges led to a pawn less endgame for Morozevich but by then Polgar had control of the seventh rank, which was enough to steer the game to a draw after 54 moves.
Kasimdzhanov, white, also troubled Adams a great deal before the draw in another Anti Marshall of the day. The Uzbek, who started here as the defending champion, had an extra pawn in the queen and minor piece endgame but Adams' counter play was quite significant. The draw was agreed to after 44 moves.
Results round 12: Veselin Topalov (Bul, 9) drew with Peter Svidler (Rus, 7.5); Peter Leko (Hun, 5) lost to Viswanathan Anand (Ind, 7.5); Rustam Kasimdzhanov (Uzb, 5) drew with Michael Adams (Eng, 4.5); Alexander Morozevich (Rus, 6) drew with Judit Polgar (Hun, 3.5).
Standings after round 12: 1. Topalov 9; 2-3. Svidler, Anand 7.5 each; 4. Morozevich 6; 5-6. Kasimdzhanov, Leko 5; 7. Adams 4.5; 8. Polgar 3.5.
Pairings round 13: Adams-Leko; Anand-Morozevich; Kasimdzhanov-Topalov; Polgar-Svidler.
The moves:
Peter Leko v/s V Anand
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4 Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. a3 Nc6 11. cxd5 Qxd5 12. Nc3 Nxc3 13. bxc3 Bf5 14. Re1 Rfe8 15. Bf4 Rac8 16. h3 Be4 17. Nd2 Bxg2 18. Bg4 Bh1 19. f3 Bh4 20. Rf1 f5 21. Bh5 g6 22. Kxh1 gxh5 23. Rg1+ Kh8 24. Qf1 Bf6 25. Rb1 Ne7 26. Bg5 Bxg5 27. Rxg5 Rg8 28. Rxg8+ Rxg8 29. Qe2 Ng6 30. Rb5 Qc6 31. Rxf5 Qxc3 32. Rd5 Qxa3 33. Kh2 Qf8 34. Qe6 Qf4+ 35. Kh1 Rf8 36. Qe2 h4 37. Rd7 Rf7 38. Rd8+ Kg7 39. Ne4 Qxf3+ 40. Qxf3 Rxf3 41. Nc5 b6 42. Ne6+ Kf6 43. Nxc7 Rxh3+ 44. Kg1 Rd3 45. Nb5 Kg5 46. Nxa7 h3 47. Nc6 Kg4 48. Ra8 Kg3 49. Ra1 h2+ 50. Kh1 Nf4 51. Ne5 Re3 52. Rd1 Kh3 53. Nf7 Rg3 white resigned.
Veselin Topalov v/s Peter Svidler
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3 Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Qd7 11. Nc3 Nd8 12. d4 exd4 13. Nxd4 Re8 14. Nf5 Ne6 15. Nxe7+ Rxe7 16. f3 Rd8 17. Bxe6 fxe6 18. e5 dxe5 19. Qxd7 Rdxd7 20. Rxe5 Rd6 21. Bf4 draw agreed.
More from rediff