Anand resumes title hunt, faces Grischuk in fifth round

Monaco, Mar 23 (UNI) Rejuvenated after a day's rest, defending champion Viswanathan Anand will resume his batle for supremacy when he takes on Russian Grandmaster Alexander Grischuk in blindfold and rapid games in the fifth round of the 15th Amber Blindfold and Rapid Chess Tournament here later today.

In the fourth round, the Indian chess wizard won his blindfold game against Boris Gelfand and then drew the rapid match with the Israeli Grandmaster to join Alexander Morozevich at the top with five points after four rounds.

Though Anand did not have the scorching start he had last time -- winning his first seven games and split point only in his eighth game -- the Indian is gradually picking up.

Anand shares the combined lead with Morozevich with five points and is also joint leader in rapid with Peter Heine Nielsen with three points.

With two points in his kitty, the Indian is placed fourth in blindfold, along with Levon Aronian, Vassily Ivanchuk, Peter Svidler and Francisco Vallejo.

Round V Pairing: Blindfild: Ivanchuk-Aronian; Topalov-Leko; Nielsen-van Wely; Gelfand-Vallejo; Grischuk-Anand; Morozevich-Svidler Rapid : Aronian-Ivanchuk; Leko-Topalov; van Wely-Nielsen; Vallejo-Gelfand; Anand-Grischuk; Svidler-Morozevich Standing after Round IV: Combine: 1. Viswanathan Anand and Alexander Morozevich(5) 3. Levon Aronian, Peter Leko, Veselin Topalov (4.5) 6. Boris Gelfand, Peter Heine Nielsen, Francisco Vallejo (4) 9. Alexander Grischuk, Loek Van Wely (3.5) 11. Vassily Ivanchuk (3) 12. Peter Svidler (2.5) Blindfold: 1. Alexander Morozevich, Veselin Topalov(3) 3. Peter Leko (2.5) 4. Viswanathan Anand, Levon Aronian, Vassily Ivanchuk, Peter Svidler, Francisco Vallejo (2) 9. Boris Gelfand, Alexander Grischuk, Loek Van Wely (1.5) 12. Peter Heine Nielson (1) Rapid: 1. Viswanathan Anand and Peter Heine Nielsen (3) 3. Levon Aronian and Boris Gelfand (2.5) 5. Alexander Grischuk, Peter Leko, Alexander Morozevich, Francisco Vallejo, Loek Van Wely, (2) 10. Veselin Topalov (1.5) 11. Vassily Ivanchuk (1) 12. Peter Svidler (0.5) UNI XC AY PM SND1334