Anand Beats Mamedyarov
By Arvind Aaron

World champion Viswanathan Anand is keeping his rapid tradition flying high by posting another win with the black pieces. He defeated Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan 1.5-0.5 in the second round of the Amber Tournament at Nice on March 16.

Anand is playing at 2972 and is among the three leaders on three points from four games. He shares the lead with Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukr) and Levon Aronian (Arm) on threepoints from four games. Nine rounds or 18 games are left to be played in this 12-player double all-play-all.

The players face each other in two games, one blindfold and one rapid game. The increment in blindfold is 20 seconds and rapid is 10 seconds. The third illegal move in blindfold will cost the game.

In the white game, Anand faced an Alekhine defence and could not get much from the passed queen pawn. They drew a rook ending.

In the decisive second game, Anand won in 42 moves with black after white chose an 2.b3 against the Sicilian defense  of the Indian player.

The significant winner of round two was Magnus Carlsen who beat the lowest rated Loek Van Wely 2-0.  The second round results (blindfold): Ivanchuk drew Gelfand, Kramnik drew Leko, Van Wely lost to Carlsen, Morozevich bt  Topalov, Karjakin drew Aronian, Anand drew Mamedyarov.

The second round results (rapid): Gelfand lost to Ivanchuk,  Leko lost to Kramnik, Carlsen bt Van Wely, Topalov bt Morozevich, Aronian bt Karjakin, Mamedyarov lost to Anand

 

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Home                                                       Published on 17^th  March, 2008