Anand closer to Zurich Chess Challenge title

After two wins, against Levon Aronian of Armenia and Dutchman Anish Giri, Anand wriggled out of problems against Latvian Alexei Shirov in the third round game and then played out a draw with Hikaru Nakamura of United States to stay afloat in the Classical-Rapid section. 

With two points for a victory and one for a draw, Anand took his tally to six points overall and will have white pieces against Vladimir Kramnik of Russia in the final round of the Rapid section. After the last round, the players will change gears and enter a blitz play-off wherein one point will be awarded for a win and half a point for a draw. 

Nakamura and Kramnik share the second spot on five points apiece. While the American also drew both his games, Kramnik was a class act against Giri in the fourth round that gave him a chance to jump to the joint second spot. Aronian on three points is sole fourth in standings while Giri and Shirov are at the bottom of the tables with two points apiece. 

In the final round now, Anand will have white pieces against Kramnik while Nakamura plays with black against Aronian. A draw should be enough for Anand to clinch the Rapid title here. 

India’s Dronavalli Harika trailed with 1.5 points after four rounds.