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Anand secures a draw against Ivanchuk to take sole first place. Morozevich completes an amazing comeback dragging himself from the bottom of the table to second place with a decisive rout of Svidler. Leko’s last position is consoled with a win against Carlsen.

Anand suffered only one defeat - against Aronian. His two smooth wins over Carlsen certainly helped remove the main threat to first place. Morozevich after starting with early two losses, came back strongly in the second half of the tournament. It would have been even better had he converted his tremendous French position against Topalov in Round 7. Carlsen impressed in his second major super GM tournament - leading the tournament for most of the way. His double reverse against Anand is the only blip on his achievement here.

Topalov’s typical second-half storming comeback failed to materialise, he struggled against Morozevich, blundered against Carlsen and Ivanchuk. Since his World Championship match against Kramnik last year, Topalov has been in the doldrums. Perhaps the rest of the field are starting to understand how to play against Topalov?

Ivanchuk - Anand

Both sides get free unhindered development from a Queen’s Indian, but Ivanchuk has a small edge. Ivanchuk focuses in on the d6-hole in Anand’s position. Anand manages to stave off a White knight landing on the weak square, and by completing the hedgehog set-up he has his position solidly under control, and both players agree to a draw.

Svidler - Morozevich

Morozevich’s energetic queenside expansion in the Classical French catches Svidler off guard. Svidler plays into Black’s hands by forcing an exchange of dark-squared bishops which activates Morozevich’s knights. Svidler’s retreat tangles up his pieces. Morozevich sacrifices a pawn to open the d-file and bring his rooks in. Svidler’s king is stuck in the centre. Svidler invests an exchange in an effort to garner some counterplay, but this merely allows Morozevich to demolish Svidler’s kingside. Svidler is busted.

Leko - Carlsen

Leko handles Carlsen’s Queen’s Indian sideline comfortably, and emerges from the opening with an advantage. Through a pin on the Black rooks Leko creates a passed d-pawn for himself. Carlsen creates a neat mating cheapo, but Leko deflects it easily. Leko forces his rook through to the seventh rank with a clever tactical manoeuvre, and simplifies into a winning endgame.

Topalov - Aronian

In a Queen’s Indian position, played by both players earlier in the tournament, Topalov deviates first with 16. cxb6. Players agree to a draw shortly thereafter.

Morozevich wins a tough endgame battle against Topalov which relegates the Bulgarian to the half a point from bottom of the tournament standings. Other games are hard-fought draws.

Morozevich - Topalov

Morozevich’s c3 Sicilian sidesteps any Topalov-prepared line. Morozevich plays an active positional game after Topalov allows a doubling of e-pawns. The position is reminiscent of a King’s Indian Attack or a quiet anti-Marshall Ruy Lopez. Instead of seeking activity on the kingside, Topalov seeks to neutralise Morozevich’s c-file pressure. As the queenside lines open, pieces get whittled off quickly leaving each side with two minor pieces. Morozevich’s outside passed pawn offers him a small chance of winning. He embarks on risky play on the kingside, sacrificing his e-pawn. Both sides have two passed pawns - Topalov’s is doubled on the e-file, Morozevich’s are on each wing. His a-pawn does a sterling job of holding up Black’s knight. After the exchange of knights the game spirals into a queen and pawns ending, where White’s second passed-pawn gives him a strong advantage. Morozevich shepards the pawn to promotion even after Topalov sacrifices his own.

Anand - Leko

Anand employs the 7. h3 Anti-Marshall system against Leko’s Ruy Lopez. Anand gains a tiny edge, and uses that to create some threats on the kingside. Leko defuses the threats, but is pushed onto the defensive. Anand allows a small combination which brings the game back to a balanced position, and a draw ensues.

Aronian - Ivanchuk

Aronian’s Classical approach to Ivanchuk’s Queen’s Indian Defence does contain a small drop of poison after an early central pawn advance. Aronian infuses tactical complications forcing Ivanchuk to find his way through the thicket of variations - Aronian misses a winning continuation but reaches a better endgame, Ivanchuk’s kingside pawn structure is shattered, but he defends the ending well earning a draw.

Carlsen - Svidler

Svidler adopts a super-solid Slav Grunfeld and establishes equality. Carlsen plays cautiously, until Svidler provokes him into sacrificing a pawn. After a flurry of exchanges, Carlsen embarks on a queenside advance prior to regaining his sacrificed pawn. This allows him to take control of the long white diagonal a8-h1, at the cost of allowing Svidler to develop his rooks. Svidler sparks off another tactical sequence, including Carlsen trading his queen for the two black rooks. The precarious position of Black’s knight allows Carlsen to force a draw by repetition.