Press Trust of India
Stavanger (Norway) June 26: Viswanathan Anand played out a quick draw with Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria to finish second in the Norway chess tournament which concluded here Friday.
The last round did not provide the expected fireworks as Topalov just decided to play it safe with his white pieces and followed an earlier game played between Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine and Magnus Carlsen. The game ended in a draw vide repetition in just 18 moves.
“I couldn’t think of an opening where he wouldn’t have such an option. I thought if he wanted to do this, I don’t think I should go crazy. I was ready for a fight but I did not want to commit silly mistakes,” Anand said about his last match of the tournament.
Looking back at his tournament, Anand said that he was happy with three wins and finishing second overall. “I’m pretty satisfied with my play and my results. I won three matches and really did not face much of a problem. If you had predicted at the start of the tournament that I would have such an ending I would have gladly taken it,” stated the Indian legend.
“At the beginning of the tournament I was worried that I was not playing my best because I felt I was missing some chances. I would say after that, the last four or five games, I felt in control all the time and obviously the three wins are very pleasing,” Anand added.
“Sometimes you have to be practical,” said Topalov on his choice after playing the rest of the games in true uncompromising style he is famous for.
The Bulgarian won the first edition of the Grand chess tour, pocketed the first prize of USD 75,000 and also gained 13 points to lead the ‘three-tournaments-tour’ after the end of the first one. Anand got $60,000 and 10 points. The next two editions will be played in San Luis, USA, in August and London in December.
The final round saw two exciting games and the biggest upset of the event was caused by lowest ranked Jon Ludvig Hammer as he defeated his ‘friend’ and compatriot World Champion Magnus Carlsen. The other winner of the day was Hikaru Nakamura who put it across Levon Aronian of Armenia to match Anand on six points. Anand however had the better tie-break score and Nakamura finished third.
