FEBRUARY: Viswanathan Anand was dealt a stunning defeat by Lev Aronian in the fifth round of the Morelia-Linares chess tournament. The Indian ace, who was in sole lead after winning his previous two games in a row, has now slipped to tied second.

After two more rounds, the action will shift to Linares. In next two rounds, Anand plays Vassily Ivanchuk and Peter Leko.

The 16-year-old Magnus Carlsen, who lost to Anand in third round, scored an upset win over Veselin Topalov to take sole lead at 3.5 points after five rounds. Aronian and Anand have three points each in tied second place.

On a day of shocks, both the top seeds lost, Anand and Topalov lost in tense struggles. Anand with black pieces in a Queen’s Gambit Accepted resigned in 48 moves. It was his first loss in the tournament.

This was also Anand’s first-ever loss to Aronian, who he has beaten once in the past in Melody Amber blindfold game last year. Four other games between the two have been drawn.

Meanwhile Topalov resigned against Carlsen, when it seemed he had drawing chances. Carlsen himself showed Topalov the defence after he had resigned.

In other games, Morozevich drew with Vassily Ivanchuk and Peter Svidler drew with
Peter Leko.

In round four, Anand beat Morozevich in the Breyer System of the Ruy Lopez. After seeming to hold is own earlier, Morozevich started to drift around the 40th move and then his 41st move saw him slip badly. Anand finished him to grab the full point.

Results of Round 5: Aronian beat Anand; Svidler drew with Leko; Morozevich drew with Ivanchuk; Carlsen beat Topalov

Round 5 Standings: 1. Carlsen 3.5; 2. Aronian and Anand 3.0; 4. Svidler, Leko and Ivanchuk 2.5; 7. Topalov and Morozevich 1.5;