Anand wins Corsica Open Rapid title

Tournaments Abroad 2003

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Corsica Open, Bastia, France
(30th October - 3rd November, 2003)

Anand wins the Corsica Rapid title

Coming right under the heels of his World Rapid title, Indian Super Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand won the Corsica Open Rapid title at Bastia, France, here today. It makes a grand French double for Anand who won his second successive major in France.

In a tense final, Anand defeated Bulgarian Grandmaster Veselin Topalov by a 4-2 margin. Anand drew the four rapid games and defeated the Bulgarian in both the blitz games to clinch the title. For Anand this victory is a four-in-a-row in Bastia and he takes the winner's cheque of Euros 20000. Topalov settles for the runner-up spot which carries the prize money of Euros 12000.

On way to the title Anand defeated GMs Miso Cebalo, Joel Lautier and Alexander Grischuk all by margins of 1.5-0.5, before conquering Topalov in the final.

With a series of wins this year which includes titles at Wijk Aan Zee, Melody Amber in France, Chess Classic Mainz in Germany, World Rapid title at Cap D Agde in France, Anand is a good bet for his third chess Oscar for his performances in 2003.

The blitz games that gave Anand the title are herebelow.

Topalov-Anand

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 Bd7 7. O-O g6 8. Re1 Bg7 9. Bg5 h6 10. Bh4 g5 11. Bg3 Nh5 12. Nxe5 Nxe5 13. Bxd7+ Qxd7 14. Bxe5 dxe5 15. Qxh5 Qxd3 16. Na3 Qd6 17. Nc4 Qe6 18. Ne3 O-O-O 19. Nf5 Bf6 20. g3 Rd7 21. Re2 Rhd8 22. Kg2 a5 23. b3 Kb8 24. Rae1 c6 25. Re3 Rh8 26. R1e2 Bd8 27. Rf3 Bb6 28. Ne3 Bxe3 29. Rexe3 f6 30. Qg6 Rd6 31. Rf5 h5 32. h3 h4 33. Ref3 hxg3 34. fxg3 Rd2+ 35. Rf2 Rxf2+ 36. Kxf2 Rxh3 37. Kg2 g4 38. Qxf6 Qxf6 39. Rxf6 Rh7 40. Rg6 Rd7 41. Rxg4 Rd2+ 42. Kh3 Rxa2 43. Rg5 Rb2 44. Rxe5 b5 45. Re8+ Kc7 46. e5 Rxb3 47. Re7+ Kb6 48. Kg4 Rxc3 49. e6 Re3 50. Kf4 Re1 51. Kf5 a4 52. Re8 a3 53. Ra8 b4 54. g4 Kc7 55. g5 b3 56. Ra7+ Kd6 57. Rxa3 b2 58. Rd3+ Ke7 59. Rd7+ Ke8 60. Rb7 b1=Q+ 61. Rxb1 Rxb1 White Resigns.

Anand-Topalov

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 dxe5 5. Nxe5 a6 6. a4 g6 7. Bc4 e6 8. O-O Bg7 9. d3 O-O 10. Re1 Qc7 11. Qf3 Nbd7 12. Bf4 Qa5 13. h4 Nb6 14. Bd2 Nxc4 15. Nxc4 Qd8 16. Bf4 Nd5 17. Be5 Qxh4 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. Nxd5 exd5 20. Qxd5 Be6 21. Qxc5 Rac8 22. Qe5+ Kg8 23. Re4 Qh6 24. Rae1 Rfd8 25. b3 Rd5 26. Qf4 Qg7 27. Nb6 Rf5 28. Qd2 Rc6 29. Nc4 h5 30. Qe3 Qc3 31. Re2 b5 32. Ne5 Rd6 33. Nxg6 Black Resigns.

(Agencies)