Anand wins

DORTMUND, July 7: Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand of India shared the lead with top seed Vladimir Kramnik (Russia) and Hungarian Judith Polgar with 2.5 points each at the end of the third round of the Silver Jubilee International Chess tournament at Dortmund Opera House.

Anand scored a decisive win in 38 moves against his former second Artur Yusupov of Germany, while Kramnik disposed of Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine in just 19 moves. Polgar defeated Nigel Short of England in 39 moves.

The Indian Grandmaster, playing with black pieces, accepted a Queen’s Gambit from Yusupov and showed his opportunism in gaining ground in characteristic style.

Returning an extra pawn to attain a commanding position by utilising the indifferent middle game of his rival, Anand sacrificed two pawns and then initiated strong positional play through a pawn. Anand had the match firmly in his grip by the 27th move.