Anand, Kramnik shares top spot in FIDE's new world ranking

Brussels, Dec 31 (UNI) Reigning World champion Viswanathan Anand managed to hold onto his numero uno position along with Russian Grandmaster Vladimir Kramnik as the duo finished the year at the top of the rating issued by FIDE.

Anand, who lost two points from his previous 2,801 is now 2,799, while Kramnik gained 14 points to move from 2,785 to 2,799.

Former FIDE World Champion Veselin Topalov gained 11 points to move up from rank four to rank three. And Vassily Ivanchuk, who in the previous list had occupied second place with 2787 rating points, shed 36 points to drop nine place. Alexander Morozevich gained ten points to move from place six to place four. While Peter Svidler added 31 points to his rating to move from place 12 to place five.

India's Krishnan Sasikiran is placed at 39th position, making him the second highest rated player among the Indians while Pentala Harikrishna is placed at 53rd position.

In the women's section Hungarian grandmaster Judit Polgar stays on the top, but Indian grandmaster Koneru Humpy is gaining on her, narrowing the lead by seven points to 95. Still a long way to go, Humpy is definitely moving in the right direction.

The other Indians in the women's section are Subbaraman Vijayalakshmi (2,464) at 25th place, Dronavalli Harika (2,455) at 33th position and Tania Sachdev (2,417) is at 48th place.

UNI