Chess Masters

Anand signs off with a draw; finishes fifth

Bilbao: World champion Viswanathan Anand could not fetch a win till the very end as he settled for a draw with Russian Sergey Karjakin in the 10th and final round of fifth Final Chess Masters to finish a lowly fifth here.

Having lost to Magnus Carlsen of Norway in the penultimate round after a spate of draws, Anand could not break through the defenses of Karjakin and settled for his ninth draw in 10 games apart from the lone defeat.

After a full bloodied penultimate round that produced three decisive games, the atmosphere was a lot calmer in the playing hall as all the games ended in draws. While Carlsen held his own against Levon Aronian of Armenia, who played white, Italian co-leader Fabiano Caruana signed peace very quickly with Francisco Vallejo Pons of Spain.

World number one Carlsen won the event blanking Caruana 2-0 in the blitz tiebreak games that ensued after a tie between the two. After the final round, Caruana and Carlsen had tied for the top spot with 17 points apiece in the soccer-like scoring system in place here that gave three points for a win and one for a draw....more    

Anand shocked by Carlsen in Final Masters

Bilbao: It went from bad to worse for world Champion Viswanathan Anand as he suffered a shocking loss at the hands of Norwegian Magnus Carlsen in the ninth and penultimate round of fifth Final Chess Masters here. Having drawn the first eight games in the tournament, Anand was expected to hold fort against Carlsen but the Indian ace cracked under pressure and went on to lose his first game in...  

Chess: Seventh draw for Anand in Final Masters

Bilbao (Spain): World champion Viswanathan Anand played out his seventh draw in as many games, signing peace with world number two Levon Aronian of Armenia in the seventh round of the fifth Final Chess Masters. With his seventh draw, nothing changed for Anand as he remained clear fourth in the six-player double round-robin tournament and the Indian ace can now look up to the two white games coming his way...  

Anand draws again in Chess Masters

Sao Paulo: World champion Viswanathan Anand's winless streak continued as he played out a tame draw against out-of-form Sergey Karjakin of Russia -- his fourth in as many games -- in the fourth round of fifth Final Masters here. Playing in his first tournament after his world championship triumph in Moscow earlier this year, Anand could not force a win against Karjakin and inched himself up to four points under...  

Anand held by leader Caruana in Chess Masters

Sao Paulo: World Champion Viswanathan Anand could not break the ice for the third day running and drew with Fabiano Caruana of Italy in the third round of fifth Final Chess Masters here. Anand, in fact, had to defend for a long time against the youngest participant here and it was only after a stubborn defense that the Indian ace could force a draw. Draws were the order of the...  

Anand draws with Aronian in Chess Masters

Sao Paulo: World Champion Viswanathan Anand played out his second draw on the trot, signing peace with Levon Aronian of Armenia in the second round of 5th Final Masters here. With draws from two white games so far, it turns out to be a mediocre start for Anand, who is back to competitive chess after a four-month break. The Indian ace will certainly feel the pressure as the tournament progresses...  

Anand held by Vallejo Pons in Chess Masters opener

Sao Paulo: World champion Viswanathan Anand got tangled in a complicated position and was held to a draw by little-known Spaniard Francisco Vallejo Pons in the first round of the fifth Chess Masters final here. It was not a desirous start for the Indian ace, who played with white in the opener against the lowest-ranked player in the tournament, and Anand will be hoping for a better performance especially in...