Anand held by Ponomariov

Linares:

Viswanathan Anand failed to convert an advantageous position and settled for a draw against World Champion Ruslan Ponomariov of Ukraine in the eighth round of the Linares Super Grandmasters Chess tournament. Peter Leko of Hungary crushed Azerbaijani wonder kid Teimour Radjabov for the second time in the 7-player double round robin tournament and jumped into joint lead with Braingames Champion Vladimir Kramnik of Russia, who drew top rated compatriot Garry Kasparov. Both Kramnik and Leko have 4.5 points each, while Anand and Kasparov follow the duo half a point behind. Radjabov and Ponomariov share the fifth spot on 2.5 points apiece and local lad Francisco Vallejo Pons bring up the tail on 2 points with an extra game in hand. (PTI)