Viswanathan Anand lost to Russia's Vladimir Kramnik in the fourth round of 10th Tal Memorial International chess tournament here.
Kramnik bounced back after his loss in the previous game and nothing went well for Anand. Kramnik capitalised on a small advantage in the middle game to outthink Anand.
Meanwhile, Holland's Anish Giri beat Russia's Peter Svidler to register his third straight win. Anish is back in the top 10 after a few lopsided performances this year.
Li Chao of China also proved to be a tough nut as he accounted for Boris Gelfand.
Ian Nepomniachtchi drew with Armenia's Levon Aronian while the other game of the day between Evgeny Tomashevsky of Russia and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan also witnessed a peaceful end.
With five rounds still remaining in the tournament, Anish is now ahead with 3.5 points while Nepomniachtchi is on his toes, trailing the former by half a point. Li Chao on 2.5 points occupies the third spot, leading Mamedyarov, Kramnik, Aronian and, Anand by half a point.
Svidler on 1.5 is eighth, Tomashvesky with one point is ninth while Gelfand with just a half point is at bottom.
Anand was up against the fashionable Italian opening against Kramnik and it was the main line on board after some deviations early on in the game.
Results after Round 4: Vladimir Kramnik (RUS, 2) beat V Anand (IND, 2); Evgeny Tomashevsky (RUS, 1) drew with Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (AZE, 2); Boris Gelfand (ISR, 0.5) lost to Li Chao (CHN, 2.5); Peter Svidler (RUS, 1.5) lost to Anish Giri (NED, 3.5); Ian Nepomniachtchi (RUS, 3) drew with Levon Aronian (ARM, 2).
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