World champion Viswanathan Anand [Images] bounced back with an emphatic victory over Norwegian Magnus Carlsen in the third round of the Morelia-Linares chess tournament in Mexico.

Anand, who started off with a victory over Alexei Shirov of Spain, played his third decisive game on the trot after losing the second round game against Morelia-nemesis Levon Aronian.

The victory over Carlsen kept Anand's score with black at 100 per cent and also helped elevate himself to the sole second spot on two points out of a possible three.

Former World champion Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria came up with an impressive preparation to down overnight joint-leader Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine. Bulgaria's best player emerged sole leader on 2.5 points following the victory.

The third place is jointly held by Ivanchuk, Aronian and Peter Leko of Hungary, who all have 1.5 points each.

Teimour Radjabov of Azerbaijan, Shirov and Carlsen are now joint sixth with a point each in this Category-21 event being played on a double round-robin basis between eight players.

Anand outclassed Carlsen in all departments of the game. Recently during the Corus chess tournament the Indian ace had beaten Carlsen also with black pieces but at that time Carlsen had a few drawing chances that he missed amidst wild complexities.

The third round match, however, was different, as Anand played in copybook fashion in the Semi Slav defense and the Moscow [Images] variation failed to yield anything worthwhile for Carlsen.

Exchanging the queens, Anand won a rook for bishop and the technique shown by Anand thereafter was a treat to watch for the spectators.

With awesome ease, the world champion liquidated to reach a winning position that involved slowly pushing the white king away from one of the supported pawns. Carlsen resigned after 59 moves.

Topalov also displayed high quality entertaining chess that he is known for the world over. Playing the white side of a Sicilian Najdorf, Topalov went for the English attack and uncorked a fine Novelty on the 16th move to leave Ivanchuk in a spot of bother.

By the 20th move itself, the Bulgarian was ruling the roost and Ivanchuk could only find solace in a pawn sacrifice after which Topalov reached a better endgame. It was technique-Topalov thereafter that completed the formalities in 46 moves.

Shirov, had to defend for some time against Leko but the Latvian-born Spaniard was never in any serious troubles in this Najdorf defense game. Leko went for a quiet set-up and after regulation exchanges the game was eventually drawn after 37 moves.

The other game of the day between Aronian and Radjabov also ended in a draw in just 24 moves.

Results round 3: Magnus Carlsen (Nor, 1.5) lost to V Anand (Ind, 2); Veselin Topalov (Bul, 2.5) beat Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukr, 1.5); Peter Leko (Hun, 1.5) drew with Alexei Shirov (Esp, 1); Levon Aronian (Arm, 1.5) drew with Teimour Radjabov (Aze, 1).

The moves: Magnus Carlsen vs V Anand

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 dxc4 7. e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5 9. Ne5 h5 10. f3 h4 11. Bf2 Bb7 12. Be2 Nbd7 13. Nxd7 Nxd7 14. O-O e5 15. a4 a6 16. d5 Rh6 17. dxc6 Bxc6 18. axb5 axb5 19. Rxa8 Qxa8 20. Qc1 Rg6 21. Rd1 Bc5 22. Bxc5 Nxc5 23. Qe3 Nb3 24. Qb6 Nd4 25. Rxd4 exd4 26. Nxb5 Bxb5 27. Qxb5+ Qc6 28. Qe5+ Re6 29. Qxd4 Qb6 30. Qxb6 Rxb6 31. Bxc4 Rxb2 32. g3 f6 33. Be6 Ke7 34. Bg4 Re2 35. gxh4 gxh4 36. h3 Kd6 37. Kf1 Rb2 38. f4 Kc5 39. e5 Rb4 40. exf6 Rxf4+ 41. Ke2 Kd4 42. Bf3 Rxf6 43. Bb7 Rb6 44. Bc8 Ke4 45. Bg4 Rb2+ 46. Ke1 Ke3 47. Kf1 Kf4 48. Ke1 Kg3 49. Kf1 Rf2+ 50. Ke1 Rf4 51. Bc8 Rf8 52. Bg4 Kg2 53. Ke2 Re8+ 54. Kd3 Kf2 55. Bf5 Re3+ 56. Kd4 Kf3 57. Bg4+ Kf4 58. Kd5 Re5+ 59. Kd4 Rg5 white resigned.

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