The Hindu : Sport / Chess : Kasparov hails Anand’s win

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Kasparov hails Anand’s win

Special Correspondent

BONN: Former World champion Garry Kasparov has hailed Viswanathan Anand’s title-winning performance in the World chess championship match here on Wednesday. Anand defeated challenger Vladimir Kramnik 6.5-4.5 points to retain the crown.

Reacting to Anand’s historic victory in Mig Greengard’s chess website, Kasparov said, “It was a very well played match by Vishy. Except for the loss of concentration in the 10th game, he played consistently and managed to enforce his style.

“His choice to open with 1.d4 (queen-pawn) was excellent. He reached playable positions with life in them so he could make Kramnik work at the board. Anand outprepared Kramnik completely.

“In this way it reminded me of my match with Kramnik in London 2000. Like I was then, Kramnik may have been very well prepared for this match but we never saw it.”

Kasparov, who defeated Anand in the 1995 title match but surrendered the crown to Kramnik in 2000, said, “Kramnik did not expect tough, sharp challenges with white and this was the key for Anand.

Conservative approach

“He hit Kramnik’s weakness: his conservative approach to the game itself. Suddenly Kramnik had to fight in these sharp positions and wasn’t able to do it. This result ends the illusion that Kramnik is a great match player.

“London was a unique occurrence and I still stand with Leonid Yudasin as the two players Kramnik has ever beaten in a match!

“Kramnik now has some work to do. His over-defensive play seems to represent a general decline in strength.

“A great result for Anand and chess. Vishy deserved the win in every way and I’m very happy for him. It will not be easy for the younger generation to push him aside,” Kasparov added.

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