Anand held to draw by Gelfand in 3rd round; Tied third

Dortmund, June 27 (UNI) World no.1 Viswanathan Anand played his third successive draw, this time against Israelian Boris Gelfand at the Sparkassen Super Grandmasters chess here.

Anand, with 1.5 points from three rounds is tied third going into the fourth round, alongwith three others.

In an Anti-Meran variation game, the Indian chees wizard equalized easily from the opening, and decided to split points after 21 moves.

Russian duo of Vladimir Kramnik and Evgeny Alekseev are leading with two points each on a day when all the four games ended in draws in the third round.

Even Russian World champion Kramnik were involved in a 21-move draw against Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan.

Hungarian Peter Leko, who drew with the Anand in the previous game, got nothing out of German Arkadij Naiditsch's rare Nimzowitsch Variation and the game was drawn in 38 moves.

Magnus Carlsen tried a long squeeze against leader Evegeny Alekseev in an anti-Queen's Indian line, but the Russian's defences held.

Results of Round 3: Anand drew with Gelfand; Carlsen drew with Alekseev; Peter Leko drew with Naiditsch; Mamedyarov drew with Kramnik; Standings after Round 3 : 1. Vladimir Kramnik and Evgeny Alekseev 2.0 points each; 3. Vishwananthan Anand, Magnus Carlsen, Peter Leko and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov 1.5 points each; 7. Boris Gelfand and Arkadij Naiditsch 1.0 point each UNI