Viswanathan Anand [Images] stamped his superiority in the blindfold game but could not get the better of Vassily Ivanchuk's defence in rapid and the 1.5-.5 win saw him slip to the second place in the combine table after seven rounds in the 15th Amber Blindfold and Rapid Chess Tournament.

Anand slipped from his joint lead in the combined table, just half-a-point adrift of Alexander Morozevich (9.5).

He, however, improved his position in blindfold, where he is placed joint third with four points, behind Morozevich (5.5) and Peter Leko (4.5).

The Indian remains at the top of the rapid chart with five points.

With two of the best in the business across the board, the Anand-Ivanchuk clash was a much-anticipated affair and they did not disappoint.

Ivanchuk has always looked a transformed player when he takes on the Indian and here again, Anand brought out the best in the Ukarainian Grandmaster in the blindfold game.

Ivanchuk unleashed a fierce kingside attack with his 14th move and he further intensified it even though Anand's deft handling of the situation saw him avert any danger. Ivanchuk, however, overlooked his advantage and Anand was more than happy to cash in on the lapse.

Ivanchuk took a lot of time for his moves and still made couple of blunders in the end game and with Anand, by then in control of the proceedings, he had no other way but to resign.

In the rapid game, Anand played it safe and shunned any extravagant move. The Indian chose the modern set-up against the Petroff but never really went all out for a win and the game was drawn in a lifeless position after 24 moves.

In the eighth round, Anand meets Loek Van Wely of the Netherlands.

Standing after Round VII: Blindfold: 1. Alexander Morozevich (5.5); 2.Peter Leko (4.5); 3. Viswanathan Anand, Francisco Vallejo (4); 5. Alexander Grischuk, Veselin Topalov (3.5); 7. Levon Aronian, Boris Gelfand, Peter Heine Nielsen, Loek Van Wely (3); 11. Vassily Ivanchuk, Peter Svidler (2.5).

Rapid: 1. Viswanathan Anand (5); 2. Alexander Morozevich, Francisco Vallejo, Loek Van Wely (4); 5. Alexander Grischuk, Veselin Topalov (3.5); 7. Levon Aronian, Boris Gelfand, Vassily Ivanchuk, Peter Leko, Peter Heine Nielsen, Peter Svidler(3).

Combine: 1. Alexander Morozevich (9.5); 2. Viswanathan Anand (9); 3. Francisco Vallejo (8) ; 4. Peter Leko (7.5); 5. Alexander Grischuk, Veselin Topalov, Loek Van Wely (7); 8. Levon Aronian, Boris Gelfand, Peter Heine Nielsen (6); 11. Vassily Ivanchuk, Peter Svidler (5.5).

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