Cap Dfagde (France) Oct 25: World Cup champion Viswanathan Anand had another mixed day as he lost to world's strongest woman player Judit Polgar of Hungary One and won against Judit's compatriot Peter Leko in the World Rapid chess championship now underway here. These two results have put Anand in a difficult situation in the B group headed by himself. The Indian ace is now placed fourth in a field of eight with just three more games remaining in the league phase. Top four players will qualify to the quarterfinal stage.
Grandmaster Peter Svidler of Russia was joined by Polgar in the lead in group B on 3 points. With two drawn encounters with local stalwart Joel Lautier and Russian teammate Alexander Grischuk, Svidler looks a near certainty for the knockout stage as well as Polgar whose form against Anand was reminiscent of their last encounter in Mainz Chess Classics where she held the lead thrice.
On third spot is Grischuk on 2.5 points while Anand is a close fourth on 1.5 points.
Bureau Report