Anand loses blindfold, draws rapid game to drop fifth overall

Monaco, Mar 21 (UNI) Viswanathan Anand had a disappointing day, losing his blindfold game and drawing the rapid against overall leader Vladimir Kramnik in the fourth round of the Melody Amber Blindfold and Rapid chess tournament here.

The Indian Grandmaster, however, maintained his second place in rapid section, half a point behind Levon Aronian who has 3.5 points out of possible four, but has slipped down on place to fifth in overall standings headed by Kramnik.

Kramnik kept a perfect score of four points in the blindfold and maintained the lead in the overall standings with 6.5, half a point ahead of Aronian.

Anand who lost the blindfold against Kramnik in 30 moves occupies tied eighth in that section. There are seven more rounds to go in the competition and the players will resume the fifth round after a day's break.

Round four Blindfold results: Radjabov drew with Ivanchuk; Kramnik beat Anand 1-0; Van Wely beat Morozevich; Vallejo lost to Svidler 0-1; Aronian beat Carlsen; Leko drew with Gelfand Results: Round 4 Rapid results: Ivanchuk beat Radjabov; Anand drew with Kramnik; Morozevich beat Van Wely; Svidler beat Vallejo; Carlsen drew with Aronian; Gelfand drew with Leko Blindfold standings after Round 4: Blindfold: 1. Kramnik 4.0; 2. Svidler and Ivanchuk 3.0; 4. Gelfand and Aronian 2.5; 6. Leko 2.0; 7. Morozevich and Radjabov 1.5; 9. Carlsen, Anand, Van Wely and Vallejo Pons 1.0; Rapid standings after Round 4: 1. Aronian 3.5; 2. Anand 3.0; 3. Morozevich, Kramnik and Ivanchuk 2.5; 6. Carlsen, Leko and Svidler 2.0; 9. Gelfand 1.5; 10. Vallejo Pons and Van Wely 1.0; 12. Radjabov 0.5 Overall standings after Round 4: 1. Kramnik 6.5; 2. Aronian 6.0; 3. Ivanchuk 5.5; 4. Svidler 5.0; 5. Gelfand, Morozevich, Leko and Anand 4.0; 9. Carlsen 3.0; 10. Radjabov, Vallejo Pons and Van Wely 2.0 UNI XC PDS BD1644