Berlin: Former world champion Viswanathan Anand suffered two more losses at the hands of Rauf Mamedov of Azerbaijan and Denis Khismatullin of Russia and will now need a miracle for a turnaround in fortune at the World rapid championship here.

After finishing Day I on 2.5 points out of a possible five, Anand yet again started with two smashing victories at the expense of Vladimir Belov of Russia and Andrei Volokitin of Ukraine but his comeback was seriously dented when he lost to Mamedov in the eighth round.

In the ninth round Anand bounced back beating Viktor Bologan of Moldova but lost to Khismatullin again in the next game.

With just five rounds remaining in the championship, Anand, on 5.5 points, needs to score massively on the last day to stake his claim for a podium finish.

The Indian ace still has a theoretical chance provided he doesn't suffer any more losses in the championship.

Defending champion in the faster format, Magnus Carlsen of Norway shot his way to joint lead along with Sergei Zhigalko of Belarus on eight points from ten rounds.