Khanty Mansiysk (Russia), Mar 24: After round 9 of the FIDE World Candidates Tournament being held in Khanty-Masisysk, Russia, Viswanathan Anand has now a full point lead and can be considered a favourite to qualify for a rematch against MagnusBSE 0.00 % Carlsen for the World Chess Championship title. With five rounds to go, he now leads with 6 points, followed by Levon Aronian with 5 points, who lost to Shakhriyar Mamedyarov.
Round 9 was the most decisive so far, with three wins and a draw. Against Topalav, Anand opened white with an Open Sicilian variation. By move 25, Anand had notched up a small advantage, and with accurate play he converted it into a win.
Kramnik, world no 3 and former World Champion, walked into a losing position very early on against the young Karjakin, after inexplicably playing 7..dxc4. Aronian, the Armenian world no 2 and one of the early favourites, found himself in a complicated position that favoured Mamedyarov, who pressed to win the round's match in 44 moves.
Anand may be the current favourite to win the Candidates, but he was certainly the underdog coming in at the start of the tournament, a perception formed largely from his World title defeat against Carlsen in Chennai followed by some tepid tournament play during the first few months of 2014. Anand has answered his critics. He started his campaign very strongly with a 1-0 win against top-seed Aronian. His next win came with Black against Mamedyarov by using a pair of monster Bishops from both flanks.
Anand's rematch with Aronian, this time with Black, proved dramatic. Aronian stunned Anand and the audience with the novelty 3 ..Qb3, an idea that he said "he had discovered during a nap". But, the former champion managed to end the match in a quick draw.
With just five rounds to go, Anand's lead cannot be termed as unassailable. In the last few games of this gruelling tournament, the players' ability to perform long calculations over the board and to stay focused will be critical, and physical fitness and stamina will play a key role. The tantalising prospect of Viswanathan Anand retaining his lead to the end could be one of the most remarkable comebacks in all of chess history.
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