Date:22/08/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/22/stories/2006082205501900.htm

Sport

Anand reigns supreme

Arvind Aaron

Mainz: Viswanathan Anand defeated Teimour Radjabov in both the games on Sunday to win the Chess Classic at Mainz for the sixth time. It was the seventh title in a row and ninth overall title for Anand in the Chess Classics held at Frankfurt and Mainz. The final victory margin for Anand was 5-3.

Both the final round games were tricky and the players were a little nervous at the table. In the seventh game, Anand took some risk and won, while in the last game, Radjabov needed a win and sacrificed pawns but lost.

Anand showed a great opening idea in game seven to win. ``I liked all the games I played with black in this competition,'' Anand told The Hindu. Radjabov did not single out his best game but said many games were tricky and he liked them.

Close competition

It was a close competition. Anand won games four, six, seven and eight. Radjabov won games two and five. Games one and three were drawn. Anand's decision to avoid the Sicilian Sveshnikov early on cost him some more points. When he varied, he won his first white game. Anand was presented the Black Jacket, a tradition in this rapid chess festival.

In the Chess960 World Championship held alongside, Levon Aronian of Armenia wrested the title from Peter Svidler of Russia by 5-3. Aronian had earlier helped Armenia win the Chess Olympiad.