Photo by Fred Lucas for the official Corus website
Chess: Anand draws with Ivanchuk, stands at 9th spot
From Our Chess Correspondent
STAFF WRITER 13:5 HRS IST
Wijk Aan Zee (The Netherlands), Jan 25 (PTI) Victory continued to elude World Champion Viswanathan Anand as he settled for his eighth successive draw, signing peace with Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine in the eighth round here today.
Initially Anand had a slight edge with his white pieces against the Sicilian Accelerated Dragon by Ivanchuk but maintaining that solid position proved quite tough and agreed for a draw in just 25 moves.
With just five rounds to come, Anand stands at a disappointing ninth but things can improve if the Indian ace could win a few games from here.
“Somehow, Vassily found a solid position and I failed to make any progress,” Anand admitted candidly in the post game conference.
Source: http://www.ptinews.com
I am guessing Anand is saving up for Topalov.
Now come on, this is a ridiculous article. All of Anand’s games were among the first to finish – and all of them in a draw. He obiovusly does not want to play or reveal any opening traps he might have prepared for Topalov, whereas his opponents show courtesy in accepting a draw against a strong and likeable opponent. However, please do not try to make it sounds as Anand was really trying to play for a win – he is hardly even playing at all. Probably the only thing the Corus organizers did wrong, inviting a player whom you could expect to not play at his fullest.
Beelze
“With just five rounds to come, Anand stands at a disappointing ninth but things can improve if the Indian ace could win a few games from here”
written by someone who does not know chess. it’s not a ‘disappointing’ ninth, it’s just ninth
vishy has no intention of pushing for a win. he may win, but he will not push for it, only take advantage of some weakness. otherwise, it’s all draws
I agree totally! He did the very same thing (in Berlin was it not?) before his match against Kramnik. He even lost a couple of games there. It’s just picking up money without performing.
@Anon 11:17AM: You probably mean Bilbao?
does the name matter?
hes the worldchampion he can do whatever he pleases cant hge?
go anand, he just plays old normal lines, he has to save energy you know a championship is ahead it would be unwise of him to play at his fullest for several reasons.
jb.
if corus organizers want i can take his place
au revoir.
This is just pathetic.
Anand has learned from Kasparov’s mistake that keeping the World Championship Title and the World Number One Ranking is a huge mistake. Eventually, someone will analyze your games, like Kramnik did, and take your title. Then what will you be left with? No title and a s–ky ranking.
Anand needs to do exactly what he needs to do to keep his title, stop playing chess. Or show up at a few tournaments and just push the wood around, like he is doing now.
Another example is Bobby Fischer who quit playing entirely so as not to risk losing the Title. Most people agree that Fischer would have beat Karpov in 1975, so Fischer accomplished the feat without having to actually play a game. People forget to notice that his 1993 Match with Spassky was billed as the “World Chess Championship” played after 21 years of not playing.
If Bogoljubov were still around I would recommend that Anand schedule a few matches with him, it worked for Alekhine. Korchnoi is playing a game with Géza Maróczy through a spiritual medium, so he might be able to hook Anand up with Bogoljubov. And if Bogo won, Anand would still be the Champ because how would Bogoljubov sign his score sheet or provide a urine sample?
Can’t blame Anand. He has to focus on the upcoming match up with Topalov. Of course we all know that it is inconceivable that Topalov will lose in Sofia ( for various reasons ),but why make it easier for him,by showing your hand prematurely.