MORELIA, FEBRUARY 24: Viswanathan Anand plays Vassily Ivanchuk with white pieces in the sixth round, which begins late on Saturday as the first leg of the Morelia – Linares Super Grandmasters chess tournaments enters the closing stages.

In fifth round NIIT-sponsored Anand suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Armenian Lev Aronian, who then joined him in tied second place. The lead is held by 16-year-old Magnus Carlsen of Norway who shocked Veselin Topalov in fifth round, after the Bulgarian uncharacteristically missed a drawing chance. Carlsen has had a great tournament beating Alexander Morozevich and Ivanchuk also. His sole loss came against Anand.

The two unbeaten players so far Peter Svidler and Peter Leko, whom Anand meets in seventh round, the last of Morelia leg. Leko and Svidler have drawn all five rounds so far.

Anand has a good chance against the last-minute entrant Ivanchuk and a win could give him a chance to contend for the title.

After the Morelia leg, action shifts to Linares, where the players each other once again.

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