Khanty Mansiysyk: Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand displayed top form to beat top seed and rating-favourite Levon Aronian of Armenia in the first game of the first round of the Candidates chess tournament, here, on Thursday.

Anand made most of the opportunities offered and came on top, as Aronian proved no match in the complexities that ensued.

The Indian ace was seen at the top of his game for the major part of the high intensity game. Anand showed to the world his capabilities when no one believed in him and the result against Aronian is an attestation to the fact that the Indian ace is here to stay.

Anand will now have two black games to negotiate against Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan.

The tournament will be played under Classical time control. (PTI)