Anand holds Carlsen

stavanger: Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand played out an easy draw with reigning world champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway to stay in contention for top honours after the end of the fifth round of Altibox Norway Chess tournament, here. Having won two games in a row with white pieces earlier in the tournament, Carlsen could do little against Anand this time and the Norwegian was not quite happy with his play. It was a Sicilian through some transposition wherein Anand surprised Carlsen early in the opening. Carlsen in fact came to confessional box and declared early that although the damage was limited he was not very optimistic about getting an advantage. As it happened in the game, the players reached an identical pawn formation soon and Anand had to find some precise moves to keep Carlsen's pieces at bay. The peace was signed after 45 moves.

Paes set for Asian Games return

new delhi: Veteran Leander Paes will have the opportunity to add to his Asian Games medal tally as he is set to be included in the Indian tennis team for the upcoming Games even as the country's premier singles player Yuki Bhambri will prefer competing in the US Open if he makes the cut. The AITA selection committee will meet here on Monday to announce the squad and sources said that the 44-year-old Paes, who skipped the last two editions, has confirmed his availability along with most of the leading men's and women's singles players, including Rohan Bopanna and Ankita Raina.

Lahiri in front nine; Woods 7th

dublin: Anirban Lahiri has changed another putter and feels his confidence is slowly building up once again as he shot a 3-under 69 in the third round of the Memorial Tournament. For Lahiri it was a tale of two nines, as he shot five-under on the front nine but slumped to 2-over 38 that still moved him 14 places up. Lahiri is now T-21 at 7-under.