Amber tournament: Anand defeats Leko

Monaco:

Defending champion Viswanathan Anand has defeated Grandmaster Peter Leko of Hungary in the sixth round of 15th Amber Blindfold and Rapid chess tournament. Anand, who lost to Grandmaster Alexander Grischuk in the previous round, regained joint lead in the combined standings of the tournament. The unique event features one blindfold and one rapid game in each round. Grandmaster Alexander Morozevich of Russia shares the lead with Anand at the half way stage with 6.5 points. In this round, Morozevich drew with Grandmaster Peter Heine Nielsen of Denmark to continue his supremacy in the Euros 216,000 event. The rapid game still remains in the sixth round. Leko is next in line having 6 points in his kitty. Anand put the loss against Grischuk behind him and went about doing the demolition act on Leko's position quite nonchalantly. The Hungarian was probably impressed by the effort of Francisco Vallejo Pons of Spain in his match against Anand a few days back and opted for the Ruy Lopez open as black. However, the Indian ace was much better prepared for this as was there for everyone to see. Anand showcased his class first in the middle game by maintaining a vice-like grip on the position with his better knight against the Bishop and slowly improved his position to knock down one of black pawns. Leko went for a pure minor piece endgame soon after but there was little respite for him as Anand clinched the issue after 67 moves. (PTI)