Anand draws with Topalov, stays joint leader

Linares, Mar 3 (UNI) Indian Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand drew a quiet 25-move game with Veselin Topalov but stayed joint leader as all the four games of the first round in the second leg of the Morelia-Linares Super GM tournament ended in draws here.

Seven rounds have already been played at Morelia, Mexico.

Anand shares lead with Magnus Carlsen, who had a tough 42-move draw with Alexander Morozevich despite pressing for a win with black pieces.

Vassily Ivanchuk is the sole third, half a point behind the joint leaders.

Anand and Topalov played a Sicilian Najdorf and they split the point after just 25 moves. After Anand's ninth move, Topalov, who played with black pieces, committed a blunder which allowed the Indian to wrest initiative in the game for sometime.

But, Anand's inability to press for a win saw Topalov bouncing back with some neat defence and return home with half a point.

In the other games, Aronian and Peter Svidler spent just 16 moves in a quick drawn game. Leko and Ivanchuk signed peace after a 38-move struggle while Morozevich managed to hold off in-form Carlsen in a 42-move battle coming out of a Ruy Lopez opening.

Standings after Round 8: 1. Anand and Carlsen 5.0; 3. Ivanchuk 4.5; 4. Aronian and Svidler 4.0; 6. Leko and Topalov 3.5; 8. Morozevich 2.5 UNI XC HSB PDS VC1551