Anand draws with Carlsen

It turns out to be a good start for Anand in the second and final leg of the category-22 super tournament after a sedate start in Sao Paulo.

The world champion was never in difficulty and now has two white games to bank on in the remaining four rounds in the tournament.

Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine, meanwhile, stretched his lead after scalping for Hikaru Nakamura of United States in a fine attacking game.

The Ukrainian, who was robbed at gun point after the conclusion of the first leg of the tournament in Sao Paulo, was at his best in demolishing the defenses of Nakamura in a Sicilian defense game.

The other game of the day between Francisco Vallejo Pons of Spain and Levon Aronian of Armenia ended in a draw.

With four rounds still to come in the event, Ivanchuk is at the helm with 13 points in all in the soccer-like scoring system that gives three points for a win and one for a draw.

The Ukrainian has won four games thus far besides a loss and a draw and is now Six points clear of nearest contenders -? Anand, Aronian, Carlsen and Nakamura who all have seven points apiece. Vallejo Pons stands at the bottom at this point with four points in his kitty in the six-player double round-robin event.

Anand went for the tried and tested Nimzo Indian defense against Carlsen who played white. The opening ended on an even keel and Anand neutralised white`s initiative after trading the queens.