The world No 3 Indian Grandmaster has the tournament virtually sewn up as he tamed Korchnoi, who employed a rather strange opening, with ease and maintained his lead with six points from eight games four wins and as many draws.

Peter Leko of Hungary defeated Vesselin Topalov of Bulgaria to be in the sole position of the second spot with five points as the tournament went into the rest day today.

Veteran Korchnoi has been involved in rather long games and has shown a lot of stamina despite his 67 years. His choice of defence with black did not trouble Anand, who took him apart in the opening itself and Korchnoi faced threats from all around in the middle game and resigned. Korchnoi is lying at the bottom of the table with 2.5points.

Anand will play Zvlaginsev, who has not played recently, when play resumes tomorrow while Michael Adams will meet Topalov and Leko will take on Lautier.Results: Vishwanathan Anand (6) bt V Korchnoi (2.5); J Piket (4) drew with Michael Adams (4); P Svidler (4) drew with V Zviginsev (4.5); V Topalov (3.5) lost to P Leko (5); V Kramnik (3.5) drew with L van Wely (4); J Lautier (2.5) drew with M Sadler (4.5).

Humpy sole leader

CASTELLON (Spain): Koneru Humpy exploited a weak defence to trap Frenchgirl M Sebag's King after 24 moves to emerge sole leader in the under-12 section as Indians enjoyed a good run in round five at the World youth chess championship here today.

Eight Indian players won, three lost and one had a draw. Sebag went for an early attack but in the process exposed her King which was not castled to safety. Humpy, with an English opening, exploited the weak centre while her opponent was attacking on the flank. The Indian girl now has five points from as manymatches.

Playing with white pieces, Tanya Sachdev beat N Hryhorenko of Ukraine in a French defence game. The Ukrainian girl lost in 36 moves, caving in under time pressure when Tanya anyway had a winning position.

In u-16 girls, Pratibha, playing black, employed the French defence against I Corrales of Columbia. She won a pawn in the middle game and got double bishop advantage to win in 45 moves.

In the u-18 girls section, R Aarthi played Ruy Lopez against G David of Germany. Aarthi went for a direct King side attack, won an exchange and the game in 26 moves.

In the boys category, Abhijit Gupta playing black, beat Marian Gelim of Argentina in a Reti opening. Abhijit repulsed an all out Kingside attack by the white pieces to win in 34 moves.

In u-12, the star Indian player P Harikrishna had to face the rated 2240 A Volokitin of Ukraine. Playing black, Hari employed the French defence Winawer Ngez variation.

Konguvel joint leader

SURAT: International Master P Konguvel of ONGC beat S Shah ofRevenue Sports Control Board (RSCB) in the eighth round to emerge as joint leader along with T Ravi of Petroleum Sports Control Board (PSCB) in the 36th National B chess championship here today.

Both Konguvel and Ravi, who beat Nilotpal Das (6) of Goodrike today, have seven points each, while Shah, leader till the seventh round with an unbeaten record, has 6.5.