Anand To Challenge Carlsen

Anand To Challenge Carlsen
By Arvind Aaron

Former five time world chess champion Viswanathan Anand emerged as the challenger to the World Chess Championship match of 2014. He fought and earned a draw from a difficult ending against Sergey Karjakin. Anand moved to 8/13 points and widened his lead to 1.5 points. Five players are behind him on 6.5 points. Anand won this event with a round to spare.

Aronian unexpectedly went down to Andreikin in a rook ending. Anand totalled eight points after the penultimate rounds and he has won this category 21 event with a round to spare. Anand faces Svidler in the final round. Surviving a lull period after the November 2013 match defeat, the 44-year old Chennai born Anand fought a spirited battle to become a challenger to Magnus Carlsen of Norway.

After losing two pieces for a rook, the Indian mega sporting star did not give up but fought a long and tough ending keeping the title interest in his mind. White’s extra material did not result in any winning advantage as was analysed by Houdini4, the super computer for chess lovers in the official website.

A minor mistake from Karjakin on move 88 allowed the game to slip into a draw. Anand drew on move 91, his longest in the event and earned a place to fight for the world chess title again.

Anand is making all kinds of records. At 44, he should be the oldest to win the Candidates Tournament in tournament format. Although in matches, Korchnoi was older to emerge challenger. Anand will receive a huge prize fund here and also is assured of a place in the world championship which will give him Rs.10 Crore if he regained his title or Rs.6 Crore if he lost it.

“It was funny. The whole tournament I was watching Levon. Suddenly I realised that both Sergey and Peter have chances,” said Anand. Many expected Anand to have a tough time in the tournament. However, with great determination, Anand turned things in his favour by winning three games against Aronian, Mamedyarov and Topalov. In the penultimate round, Anand stood a test of endurance when he held a tough ending to a draw.

“I am tired for too many questions,” said Anand. It is incredible to win in this field. “This is an unusual tournament, now only Vishy has plus and all other players have 50% or minus score,” said Karjakin. “Tournament was extremely hard fought,” said Anand. “This result is one of the pleasant surprises I have had in my career,” said Anand.

Anand was asked if he was not tired playing all these world championship matches. “No,” said Anand as the meet the press concluded in Khanty-Mansiysk in Russia.

Levon Aronian of Armenia, who was in the title race lost to Andreikin in a rooks ending. Aronian, the top seed, suffered three defeats in this event.

The results (round 13): S Karjakin (Rus) 6.5 drew V Anand (Ind) 8; V Kramnik (Rus) 6.5 bt V Topalov (Bul) 5.5; P Svidler (Rus) 6 drew with S Mamedyarov (Aze) 6.5; D Andreikin (Rus) 6.5 bt L Aronian (Arm) 6.5.