PTI

Sofia (Bulgaria), May 20: Viswanathan Anand went down fighting against World Champion Veslin Topalov of Bulgaria in the seventh round of Mtel Masters international chess tournament here.

After a brilliant start in the category-20 event, this was Anand's second loss in the tournament, the earlier one coming against tournament leader Gata Kamsky of United States in the third round.

Former World champion Ruslan Ponomariov, who was struggling in the tournament thus far, announced his comeback with a finely crafted victory over Russian Peter Svidler. The other game of the six-player double round robin event was a draw between Kamsky and Etienne Bacrot of France.

Kamksy increased his lead over Anand to a full point after the latest results. As things stand with three rounds remaining, Kamksy is on 5 points while world number two Anand has 4.

Aided by his victory over the Indian, Topalov moved to joint third spot along with Svidler on 3.5 points. Ponomariov and Bacrot are sharing the fifth spot on 2.5 each.

Earlier in the second round of the event, Anand had beaten Topalov with black pieces but with white, Anand's form was yet again found wanting as he succumbed to the Bulgarian quite easily.

For the record, this was Anand's second loss with white pieces, something very unusual for him.