BELGRADE, November 17: Viswanathan Anand scored his second straight win and joined Alexi Shirov and Vassily Ivanchuk at the top after five rounds in the Category 18 Investbanka International Grandmasters tournament. When matches resumed on Sunday after a day's rest, Anand pitted against Kiril Georgiev scored a fine win in 30 moves in a Sicilian Dragon defence which the Indian GM simply killed.

Ivanchuk was held to a draw by local hero Ljubomir Ljubjevic in a quick 20-move of Queen's Gambit accepted. Shirov had an easy time against Aleksandar Kovacevic, who by now must be feeling what a misfit he is in this company. Shirov won his game in 32 moves of a Kings Indian Classical. Kovacevic has lost all five games thus far.

Vladimir Kramnik ensured the leaders did not get to far ahead of him, as he scored a good win with black against Alexander Beliavsky in 34 moves in a Queen's Gambit declined. Boris Gelfand did his confidence a world of good with a good 40-move over Joel Lautier in another Queen's Gambit accepted

Results (5th round): Shirov (3.5) bt Kovacevic (0); Anand (3.5) bt Georgiev (2); Gelfand (2.5) bt Lautier (3); Ljubojevic (2) drew with Ivanchuk (3.5); Beliavsky (2) lost to Kramnik (3)

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