LINARES, March 04: Viswanathan Anand and Peter Svidler played out a draw in the ninth round of the Morelia – Linares Super Grandmasters Chess tournament and that still kept a share of the lead with the Indian star.

Anand and Carlsen, who drew with Lev Aronian, are in tied first pl ace at 5.5 points each.
Vassily Ivanchuk drew with Veselin Topalov and was lying third with five points while Topalov and Aronian were tied fourth with 4.5 points each.

Anand played the Petroff defence against Svidler and with black pieces the NIIT-backed Indian.

Svidler, white, used a move that introduced in 2003 by Kramnik against Anand itself. In the time since the idea has been explored well. It is a move that in some ways get black to make clear its way forward. Anand, with black, handled the situation well and by the time of the 32nd move, he was fully equal and then the players decided call it truce soon after the first time control and the 41st move.

Topalov managed to save a white game against the clearly superior Ivanchuk, who got into time trouble and had to accept a draw. Peter Leko lost badly to Alexander Morozevich to join him at the tail-end of the cross table.

The two tournament is being played in two legs in Morelia, Mexico and Linares, Spain. The first leg had seven rounds and it will be the same in second leg, too.

RESULTS OF Round 9:

Carlsen drew with Aronian; Svidler drew with Anand; Topalov drew with Ivanchuk;
Morozevich beat Leko

Standings after Round 9: 1. Anand and Carlsen 5.5; 3. Ivanchuk 5.0; 4. Aronian and Svidler 4.5; 6. Topalov 4.0; 7. Leko and Morozevich 3.5;

Pairings for Round 10:
Leko v Topalov; Ivanchuk v Svidler; Anand v Carlsen; Aronian v Morozevich