Anand suffers fifth straight defeat in Legends of Chess tourney

New Delhi, July 26 Indian Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand lost 2-3 against Hungary's Peter Leko to suffer a fifth straight defeat in the Legends of Chess online tournament.

Anand won the first game in the best-of-four contest in what was a good start but the next two games were drawn before Leko won the fourth to level the proceedings.

The Hungarian then claimed the Armageddon (a tie-breaker) to ensure Anand remained winless and at the bottom of the points table in the USD 150,000. The former world champion had earlier lost to Peter Svidler, Magnus Carlsen, Vladimir Kramnik and Anish Giri. He is making his maiden appearance on the Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour.

Legends of Chess pits Carlsen, Liren, Nepomniachtchi and Giri, semifinalists at the Chessable Masters which is also a part of the Magnus Carlsen Tour, against six legends aged 40-52, who have been at the top of world chess at various points in their career.

The winner of this event will qualify for the USD 300,000 Grand Final scheduled from August 9 to 20.

World no. 1 Carlsen bounced back strongly to avoid an upset, beating veteran Vasyl Ivanchuk 3-2 to stay on top.

Results of Round 5: Peter Leko beat Viswanathan Anand 3-2; Magnus Carlsen beat Vasyl Ivanchuk 3-2: Vladmir Kramnik beat Ding Liren 2.5-1.5; Anish Giri beat Boris Gelfand 2.5-1.5; Ian Nepominiachtchi beat Peter Svidler 3-1.

( With inputs from IANS )