Hungarian Peter Leko is lying sole fifth on 9.5 points, a full point clear of Topalov and Gata Kamsky of United States while Ivanchuk and Morozevich share the 8th spot on 8 points apiece.

Azerbaijani Teimour Radjabov is in 10th spot on 7.5 points and a half point adrift of him is Karjakin. Wang Yue of China is at the bottom of the tables with 6.5 points.

Carlsen also surged ahead in the blindfold standings and it seems that the teenager is set to attest his supremacy in this section. With seven points out of a possible nine, Carlsen retained his full point lead here over Anand.

Karjakin was disappointed at not winning a won position against Carlsen in the blindfold and his rapid form suffered a setback as he was gradually outplayed.

Aronian won the battle of creativity in the rapid as well where he outplayed Morozevich.

In other matches of the day, Kamsky played out two draws with Wang Yue while Leko achieved the same result against Radjabov.

Results round 9 blindfold: Veselin Topalov (Bul) drew with V Anand (Ind); Wang Yue (Chn) drew with Gata Kamsky (Usa); Alexander Moreozevich (Rus) drew with Levon Aronian (Arm); Vladimir Kramnik (Rus) lost to Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukr); Peter Leko (Hun) drew with Teimour Radjabov (Aze); Sergey Karjakin (Ukr) drew with Magnus Carlsen (Nor).

Rapid: Anand drew with Topalov; Kamsky drew with Yue; Aronian beat Morozevich; Ivanchuk drew with Kramnik; Radjabov drew with Leko; Carlsen beat Karjakin.

Combined standings after round 9: 1-3. Anand, Aronian, Carlsen 11.5 each; 4. Kramnik 10; 5.

... contd.