Rediff
 
Mexico City, Sep 24: Viswanathan Anand played a short but solid draw with Lev Aronian in the ninth round of the World Chess Championships, but with both his closest rivals losing their games, Anand extended his lead to a full point with five more games to go in the Championships in Mexico City.

In a stunning result, Alexander Grischuk beat the so-far unbeaten Boris Gelfand in the ninth round in a game that was in the Nimzo Indian. The game lasted 60 moves and pushed Gelfand to one point behind Anand.

The other shocker came when Alexander Morozevich, one of the most creative players, but rather unpredictable, arrived at the board 12 minutes late, but went on to beat Vladimir Kramnik in an English Symmetrical opening. The game ended in 48 moves and put Kramnik in a difficult position. Kramnik is now at 4.5 points, which is 1.5 behind Anand.

Anand who had scored his first win of the ongoing championships over Aronian in second round with black pieces, was unable to repeat that success with white pieces, but coming in after a day's rest, he looked solid with his preparation as the game began in the Marshall variation of the Ruy Lopez. However, Aronian, who has lost twice in these championships, was very precise this time around and took a draw in just 21 moves.

After initial moves, which have been analysed thoroughly over the years, Anand played a new move 15.g3 to try and take control of the f4 square. But Aronian was upto it and solved his opening problems easily.

With neither likely to make a dent, the duo agreed on a draw with both satisfied to share the point in the arising position.

Anand and Kramnik will clash in round 10 and if Anand, who will have black, manages even a draw, Kramnik's chances of winning the title would become very slim indeed.

In the fourth game of the day, Peter Leko drew with Svidler in just 29 moves from a Sicilian Najdorf Variation.

Pairings for Round 10: Aronian v Grischuk; Gelfand v Leko; Kramnik v Anand; Svidler v Morozevich

Results of Round 9: Anand drew with Aronian; Leko drew with Svidler; Morozevich beat Kramnik; Grischuk beat Gelfand

Standings after Round 9: 1. Anand 6; 2. Gelfand 5.0; 3. Kramnik, Grischuk and Leko 4.5; 6. Morozevich and Aronian 4; 8. Svidler 3.5.