World champion Viswanathan Anand completed a comprehensive 4.5-1.5 victory over Spain’s Alexei Shirov to claim the Leon Masters rapid chess title for the eighth time at Leon, on Sunday.
NEW DELHI, June 6, 2011
Anand wins Leon Masters for eighth time
Rakesh Rao
In the six games, spread over three days, Anand won a game and drew the other on each day to stamp his superiority. Each player had 45 minutes per game plus 30 seconds increment for each move made.
On Sunday, with Anand needing just a draw to seal the title, both games were fought well. Anand won the fifth game in 41 moves to take the winning lead.
The inconsequential sixth game saw Shirov fight for pride but Anand gave nothing away and forced a 39-move draw with white pieces.
This was Anand’s record eighth triumph at this annual rapid chess destination. Anand’s previous triumphs came in 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006 and 2007.
The results:
Viswanathan Anand beat Alexie Shirov 4.5-1.5 (Game 1: Shirov drew with Anand; Game 2: Anand bt Shirov; Game 3: Shirov lost to Anand; Game 4: Anand drew with Shirov; Game 5: Shirov lost to Anand; Game 6: Anand drew with Shirov).
Anand is unbeatable.