JOIN USFive-time world champion Viswanathan Anand was held to a draw by Wei Yi of China in the fifth round of Tata Steel Masters Chess tournament here.
With his third draw in five games, the reigning world rapid champion remained in joint lead on 3.5 points, along with Anish Giri of Holland and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan.
While Giri was held to a draw by Gawain Jones of England, Mamedyarov's tactics worked pretty well as he outplayed Fabiano Caruana of United States.
The other Indian in the fray, B Adhiban succumbed to his third defeat, going down to Wesley So of United States, while in the other decisive game, Peter Svidler defeated top woman player Yifan Hou of China.
With eight rounds still to come, world number one Magnus Carlsen is half a point behind the three leaders. Giving him company is Wesley So and Vladimir Kramnik of Russia.
Even though he looked in a spot of bother, Carlsen found just about the right moves to draw with Kramnik in the fifth round game.
Anand faced the second Petroff defence in the tournament as white but this time did not get much play. The Indian ace had scored an excellent victory over Caruana in the same opening a couple of days back but Wei Yi appeared better prepared.
The middle game saw Anand coming out with a new idea on the 15th move but the Chinese Grandmaster found the right response. Anand came up with a few tactical threats but they all met with resistance and the exchange of pieces ensured a perfect balance in just 29 moves.
Results (Masters, round 5): Peter Svidler (Rus, 2.5) bt Yifan Hou (Chn, 0.5); Magnus Carlsen (Nor, 3) drew with Vladimir Kramnik (Rus, 3); Gawain Jones (Eng, 2.5) drew with Anish Giri (Ned, 3.5); V Anand (Ind, 3.5) drew with Wei Yi (Chn, 2.5); Wesley So (Usa, 3) bt B Adhiban (Ind, 1); Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Aze, 3.5) bt Fabiano Caruana (Usa, 1.5); Maxim Matlakov (Rus, 2.5) drew with Sergey Karjakin (Rus, 2.5).