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World rapid chess champion Viswanathan Anand came from behind to defeat FIDE world champion Rustam Kasimdzhanov by 2.5-1.5 in a well fought finals of the 18th City of Leon Chess Tournament in Spain on Sunday.
Anand lost the sharp first game with the black pieces when he played with an exposed king which was hunted down by the Uzbek world champion. He came back in the second to level the scores by sacrificing his knight against the Sicilian defence. In the third game, Anand managed a tight draw after being a pawn down. In the deciding fourth game, he had white and faced the Ruy Lopez. Anand sacrificed a knight to win three pawns on the queen side. On the 39th move he won by rolling his pawns up the board to regain his Leon title.
In 1997, Anand had defeated Illescas in a match at Leon. And in 1999 he handed Anatoly Karpov his worst drubbing of his career by 5-1. In 2000 and 2001 he won the tournament format. A victory in this four player event confirms his superiority in rapid chess.
Next, Anand, the 35-year old NIIT Brand Ambassador will defend his Mainz Chess Classic title at Germany in a match against Alexander Grischuk of Russia from August 9-14.
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