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Anand in semi-finals

Favourites Garry Kasparov and Viswanathan Anand looked on course for a final showdown as they moved into the knockout stage in the Top of the World Challenge rapid chess tournament in Reyjavik on Saturday.

Anand, who won his group, meets Margeir Petursson of Iceland in the semi-final, while Kasparov, who also topped his Group, clashes with Alexander Wojtkiewicz of Poland. Both the semi-finals will be two-match rapid encounters.

Anand scored three victories and two draws to make the grade with a round still to be played in the 12-player rapid tournament which has two groups of six each.

Results:

First round: Group A: G. Kasparov drew with V. Korchnoi, J. Timman drew with F. Olafsson, H. Olafsson lost to M. Petursson. Group B: J. Hjartarson lost to V. Anand, H. Stefansson lost to I. Sokolov, J.L. Arnason lost to A. Wojtkiewicz.

Second round: Group A: F. Olafsson lost to G. Kasparov, H. Olafsson drew with J. Timman, M. Petursson bt V. Korchnoi. Group B: I. Sokolov bt J.L. Arnason, V. Anand bt A. Wojtkiewicz, J. Hjartarsson drew with H. Stefansson.

Third round: Group A: V. Korchnoi lost to F. Olafsson, G. Kasparov bt H. Olafsson, J. Timman bt M. Petursson. Group B: H. Stefansson drew with V. Anand, A. Wojtkiewicz bt I. Sokolov, J. Hjartarsson bt J.L. Arnason.

Fourth round: Group A: J. Timman lost to G. Kasparov, H. Olafsson bt V. Korchnoi, M. Petursson bt F. Olafsson. Group B: V. Anand bt I. Sokolov, J. Hjartarson lost to A. Wojtkiewicz, H. Stefansson bt J.L. Arnason.

Fifth round: Group A: V. Korchnoi drew with J. Timman, G. Kasparov bt M. Petursson, F. Olafsson lost to H. Olafsson. Group B: J.L. Arnason drew with V. Anand, A. Wojtkiewicz drew with H. Stefansson, I. Sokolov bt J. Hjartarson.

Group Standings:

Group A: 1 G. Kasparov (Rus) 4.5/5, 2 M. Petursson (Isd) 3, 3-4 H. Olafsson (Isd), J. Timman (Ned) 2.5 each, 5 F. Olafsson (Isd) 1.5, 6 V. Korchnoi (Swz) 1.

Group B: 1 V. Anand (Ind) 4/5, 2 A. Wojtkiewicz (Pol) 3.5, 3 I. Sokolov (Bih) 3, 4 H. Stefansson (Isd) 2.5, 5 J. Hjartarsson (Isd) 1.5, 6 J.L. Arnason (Isd) 0.5.

Agencies