Riyadh, December 30
Viswanathan Anand continued his excellent run as he bagged the bronze medal at the World Blitz Chess Championship, just two days after winning the gold in rapid section.
World classical champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway proved his mettle as he won the gold in convincing fashion. After the first day, Carlsen trailed the leader and 2016 champion Sergey Karjakin by two points. But on the second day, Carlsen found his form as he conceded only two draws in 10 games to win the title with a game to spare.
He finished on 16 points from 21, one-and-a-half point ahead of Karjakin and Anand. Russia’s Karjakin took the silver due to a better tie-break, but the prize money will be shared.
This is Carlsen’s third world blitz title, having also won in 2009 and 2014.
Anand bounces back
After ending the first day with a defeat at the hands of Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia, Anand was a class act on the final day.
Anand, who had seven points after Day 1, earned 7.5 points on Saturday to climb to second position alongside Karjakin. The Russian struggled today as he could muster just 5.5 points. This was a remarkable effort from Anand who had finished last in the London Chess Classic earlier this month.
Anand defeated Etienne Bacrot of France, Vladimir Fedoseev of Russia, Baadur Jobava of Georgia and Tigran Petrosian of Armenia.
The icing on the cake was the tense final round, in which Anand showed his steely nerves to beat Vachier Lagrave.
Among the other Indians in the fray, P Harikrishna and Vidit Gujrathi did well to end on 12.5 points apiece, B Adhiban ended on 11, while Surya Shekhar Ganguly and SP Sethuraman finished with 10 points each. — Agencies
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