This Article is From Nov 11, 2009

Anand beats Leko, joins Kramnik in top of Tal Memorial chess

Moscow: Viswanathan Anand joined Vladimir Kramnik in the top of the leaderboard of the Tal Memorial chess tournament here, defeating Peter Leko in the fifth round of the event.

The Indian chess ace, who opted for outplayed Anti-Meran Gambit with his favourite white pieces, outplayed Leko in 45 moves.

It was Anand's second win in the tournament. He earlier beat Peter Svidler in the third round. Anand and Kramnik jointly share the lead with 3.5 points after five rounds. The duo is being followed by Lev Aronian with three points.

All the other fifth round games in the tournament ended in tame draws.

Anand will take on Magnus Carlsen in the sixth round.

<b>Standings after five rounds:</b>

1-2. Anand and Kramnik (3.5 points), 3. Aronian (3 points), 4-7. Carlsen, Gelfand, Ivanchuk and Ponomariov (2.5 points), 8. Morozevich (2 points), 9-10. Svidler and Leko (1 point).

<b>Round 6 pairings:</b>

Kramnik vs Ponomariov, Leko vs Svidler, Carlsen vs Anand, Morozevich vs Ivanchuk, Gelfand vs Aronian.
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