Anand Wins 17 Games In Charity Simul
By Arvind Aaron

World No.1 Viswanathan Anand scored 17 victories, one draw and lost one game in the 19-game Vidya Sagar Charity Simultaneous display played in the Internet  Chess Club (ICC) on April 21. The three hour effort fetched Rs.2.25 lakhs for Vidya Sagar, a Chennai based NGO.

Anand, 37, had played a simultaneous on similar lines in July 2005 and scored 92/93, ceding two draws on ICC to score 10/11 and 82/82 at Chennai in the over the board simultaneous. This time, Anand was in trouble in many games but once the final bend came, he was able to cash more points as opponents made  mistakes when they had less time to make their moves.

Marc Lacrosse of Belgium upset Anand when the genius overlooked a rook manoeuvre in the ending. In another match, Dr Alain Authier of Canada played a draw by perpetually checking the king of Anand after sacrificing a bishop. Players from four continents and eight nations competed in this 90-minute a game affair.

There was a 5 second increment per move. Two of his 19 opponents were Indians but played from USA. ICC ensured there was plenty of publicity as all three radio stations on www.chess.fm covered the event. One was in Spanish language, two in English from USA  and another from Chennai in India. Earlier, before the match, Viswanathan Anand inaugurated the www.chess.fm India service before the match commenced. Anand played this event from his European home in Madrid.

In his next public function, Viswanathan Anand will be felicitated during the Diamong Jubilee Celebrations of the Tamil Nadu State Chess Association at Chennai on April 26.
 

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Published on : 25th April, 2007