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[edit] The World’s Toughest Super Grandmaster Vishy Anand wins Chess Classic at Mainz
By Vijay Kumar
Despite losing the last round game against Alexander Grischuk, World Rapid Chess champion Viswanathan Anand made history by bagging his record eighth -- fifth in a row -- title at the Mainz Classic here with a 5-3 verdict.
Smarting from his sixth round defeat in the Grenke Leasing Chess Classic World Rapid by Grischuk, Anand was baying for blood in the seventh round. The Indian needed just a draw to book the title and so Grischuk had no other way but to go for a kill only to be conquered at the end by the Indian. Grischuk, however, had the consolation win against the Indian in the last match.
Earlier in the seventh round, Grischuk -- playing with white -- opened with e4 and Anand replied with c5 and the game continued on Sicilian pattern. Anand played his normal game as he knew he had two games to get a draw to lift the title. He often repeated his pieces but Grischuk refused to accept the draw and continued playing. After Anand sacrificed two pawns to get a better position, the misfortune for Grischuk started and he conceded the game despite having slight edge in the initial stages over the Indian.
The eighth round match was of only academic interest as Anand was sitting pretty with the title and Grischuk had no motivation after losing the championship.
But soon complications started for Anand in the Caro-Kann opening game which favoured black and Grischuk dominated the board. In the end, Anand realised there was no way he could even get a draw and so he resigned.
Overall I would say that the match was interesting and tough.
Grischuk proved a dangerous player. He should have won the seventh game but then luck was on my side. In the end, I would say 5:3 is not a bad result, Said Anand after the game.
The Indian community living in Frankfurt and around came to witness his triumph. There were students from Koln, Businessmen from as far a Hamburg and lot of families from Frankfurt.
It was not all , a sports lover , who has been coming to witness chess for the past 8 years went all out to arrange a fabulous felicitation in honour of Anand .
The celebrations to honour Anand were held in a sleepy town of Bad Soden some 15 Km from Frankfurt. Present at the function were India’s counsel General in Frankfurt Mr. Ashok Kumar with his family, the Mayor of Bad Soden, Chess Classic Director Hans Walter Schmitt with his lovely wife and a batch of 14 young students studying in Germany. Besides, a number of Indian families settled in Germany gathered to have a glimpse of this down to earth world champion.
The function was organized by S.S.Sidhu , who opened the doors of his Maharani Restaurant for the gathered guests and served delicious Indian delicacies.
Anand and his pretty wife Aruna, mingled with the gathered guests and made the evening an unforgettable event.. Vijay Kumar Spoke to Anand in Frankfurt.
Vijay Kumar : Anand this is a remarkable achievement by you. in a row and 8th overall, how does it dawn on you?
Anand : Well I just take every year as it comes I think the main thing is not to think about those things later but obviously now that it is finish I can say it is fantastic both my record in Mainz and in Corsica is very nice. I hope to keep it going as long as it is possible.
Vijay Kumar: Well having been reaffirmed as the best player on the planet in rapid again, what do u think others are lacking.
Anand: I don’t know some how each time I find that my record in rapid is very good but I find that each time its just a tough battle …I don’t know if the others are lacking something .
Vijay Kumar: Most of the followers of chess believe that u r the best player in the World today as Kasparov has retired from competitive chess ….Ur comments?
Anand : I don’t know .it is unfortunate that he is just not playing I feel my winning the OSCAR again was correct and I think this year I have got chances because its going well.
Vijay Kumar: You are in brilliant form of late….How about your best, is it still to come?
Anand: I hope so basically I am enjoying chess and enjoying it from day to day and I think that’s the main thing and it shows in my game also . I know the feeling when you are not motivated and it is completely different it is going smoothly so I am very happy.
Vijay Kumar: Chess wise U r not aging at all, is age an important factor with these 12-13 year old GMs these days? What do u think makes a great player?
Anand: I think it is definitely a factor and it is an important one there is no question about that but obviously it is not the only factor and also I do pay a lot of attention to my fitness. I think when you are younger you can do away with it but when you cross 32 you need to be very fit to be able to take the exertion that comes with these games and the tension. So I try to do as much physical training as possible . Obviously it is quite shocking that I have to play quite often 13 years old or 15 years old but ok that’s what make chess also very interesting.
Viswanathan Anand Lifted the coveted World Champions Title at Tehran in 2000 and won both the world Cups held at Shengyan and Hyderabad. Unfortunately he could not keep the World Champion's title when he lost in the semi finals at Moscow in 2001 and again this year at San Luis where he was overtaken by Bulgarian Grandmaster Veselin Topalov.However He lifted the Prestegious Corus Trophy for a record Fifth Time .
