Anand finishes last in Bilbao, likely to lose top ranking

LOSING BATTLE: The loss might cost the Indian his numero uno status in FIDE rankings.

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New Delhi: World No. 1 Viswanathan Anand has had his most miserable outing in the last decade, finishing last at the Bilbao Grand Slam final in Spain.

Anand signed off with a mundane draw against Magnus Carlsen of Norway to finish last in the Bilbao Grand Slam Final and the outcome might cost the Indian his numero uno status in FIDE rankings.

Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria came up with a resounding victory over Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine in the final round to win the tournament with 17 points and is likely to regain the number one slot in the world rankings.

Following his eighth draw in the tournament besides two losses, Anand is likely to lose close to 15 rating points from his outing here and for the first time in recent years the

Indian finished last in a high-category tournament. With his scintillating display here, Topalov pocketed winner's purse of Euro 150000. The Bulgarian won more games four than any other player in the tournament and lost just one game.

Nearest rivals Carlsen and Levon Aronian of Armenia who both ended on 13 points in the tournament and shared the second spot.

Carlsen had the better tie-break of the two and finished runners up. Ivanchuk finished sole fourth on 12 points while a late charge against Aronian helped Teimour Radjabov of Azerbaijan to finish fifth on 10 points. Anand with eight points finished last.

Ahead of the World Championship match against Vladimir Kramnik next month, Anand's mediocre show casts a doubt on the form of the Indian, who now needs a change of fortune urgently before the match.