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 India's
Viswanathan Anand overtook Gary Kasparov and joined an elite band of chess champions to have won the prestigious Corus Grandmasters chess tournament four times. The Indian Mind Champion’s nearest rivals, Michael Adams and Peter Leko were unable to force a win in their last round matches at Wijk Aan Zee in the 13th and final round of the Category 19 round robin tournament.
Anand, the NIIT Brand Ambassador, quickly opted for a safe 14-move draw from a Ruy Lopez opening and took his tally to 8.5 points with five wins, seven draws and one loss. Leko finished with eight points, as did Adams. The fourth place was shared by Topalov and Moldovan Viorel Bologan with 7.5 points each and Bologan was impressive in the last stages as he got 4.5 points from his last five games. Kramnik, Loek Van Wely and Evegeny Bareev shared the sixth place with 6.5 points each.
Kasparov has won the Corus three times, while this latest triumph for Anand was his fourth at the Dutch seaside town, Wijk Aan Zee. The other three legends to have won this title four times are Lajos Portisch, Max Euwe and Viktor Kortchnoi.
With Anand’s triumph in consecutive years 2003 and 2004, his tally of titles since becoming the 2000 World Champion has now gone up to an incredible 16, including the world crown. This is an unparalled achievement amongst the chess elite.
There was much speculation over whether tie-breaks would be used, though Corus has a tradition of declaring joint winners. Leko playing Kramnik tried his utmost for a win, while Adams after initial attempts against Peter Svidler settled for a draw. The Kramnik-Leko game was one of the last to finish and once it was split, Anand was the sole winner.
The outright title was a just reward for some fantastic chess that Anand played over the last two weeks in Wijk. This also signals the start of yet another excellent year for one of the finest players of our times
Anand speaking after the win admitted he was not happy about the loss to Veselin Topalov hat broke his streak at Corus, but quickly, added, “Corus is a very special event for me. I am happy to have continued the form I had over last year. My immediate goal is to reach the 2800 mark”.
In the last round, the clash that gained the most focus was the one between Kramnik and Leko in Queen’s Indian. Kramnik had an edge but in the rooks and opposite coloured bishop ending it was drawn after 65 moves. Svidler and Michael Adams also fizzled into a draw after 26 moves of a Ruy-Lopez opening.
In the decisive games of the final round, Bareev beat Akopian in a 55move Nimzo Indian game, while Bologan with black handed SHirov another defeat in a 40-move Petroff defence game. Topalov rounded of the tournament with a win over Jan Timman with black.
Results of the thirteenth round:
Anand (Ind) drew Sokolov (Ned); Svidler (Rus) drew Adams (Eng); Shirov (Esp) lost to Bologan (Mld); Zhang (Chn) drew Van Wely (Ned); Bareev (Rus) beat Akopian (Arm); Kramnik (Rus) drew Leko (Hun); Timman (Ned) lost to Topalov (Bul).
Final Standings
1. Anand, Viswanathan g IND 2766 8.5; 2. Leko, Peter g HUN 2722 8.0; 3. Adams, Michael g ENG 2720 8.0; 4. Topalov, Veselin g BUL 2735 7.5; 5. Bologan, Viktor g MDA 2679 7.5; 6. Kramnik, Vladimir g RUS 2777 6.5; 7. Van Wely, Loek g NED 2617 6.5; 8. Bareev, Evgeny g RUS 2714 6.5; 9. Svidler, Peter g RUS 2747 6.0; 10. Akopian, Vladimir g ARM 2693 6.0; 11. Shirov, Alexei g ESP 2736 6.0; 12. Sokolov, Ivan g NED 2706 5.0; 13. Zhang Zhong g CHN 2639 5.0; 14. Timman, Jan H g NED 2578
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Corus
Wijk aan Zee 2004, Holland
