Viswanathan Anand’s master-class to former Women World champion Hou Yifan underscored his versatility and earned him the runner-up spot behind Magnus Carlsen in the Isle of Man chess tournament here on Sunday.
In what was one of the strongest open events in chess history, fourth seed Anand (seven points) signed off in style with an impeccable display lasting 53 moves.
Playing white, Anand came up with a tactical stroke involving a temporary knight-sacrifice then emerged with an extra pawn. In the rook-and-pawn ending, Anand tightened the noose.
Earlier, Carlsen (7.5) drew with Hikaru Nakamura (7) in just 18 moves following perpetual checks. Carlsen collected the winner’s share of £50,000.
Anand and Nakamura, placed in that order after tie-break rules were applied, received £18,750 each by sharing the prize-money meant for second and third.
Like Anand, the duo of Vidit Gujrathi and Swapnil Dhopade also remained unbeaten to tally 6.5 points. Part of the nine-player group that tied for the fourth spot, Vidit eventually took the eighth place while Dhopade was 12th.
In terms of rating points gained, the two biggest Indian beneficiaries were Grandmaster norm-maker Harsha Bharathakoti who collected 33 points and Dhopade, 28 points.
Leading results (involving Indians): Ninth round: Viswanathan Anand (7) bt Hou Yifan (Chn, 6); Pavel Eljanov (Ukr, 6.5) drew with Swapnil Dhopade (6.5); Richard Rapport (Hun, 6.5) drew with Vidit Gujrathi (6.5); Francisco Pons Vallejo (Esp, 5.5) drew with S. L. Narayanan (5.5); Julio Granda Zuniga (Per, 6) bt Harsha Bharathakoti (5); Gabriel Sargissian (6) bt Nihal Sarin (5); B. Adhiban (5.5) bt Nino Batsiashvili (Geo, 4.5); Alexander Rizazntsev (Rus, 5) drew with N.R. Visakh (5); S.P. Sethuraman (5) drew with Swayams Mishra (5); Aravindh Chithambaram (5.5) bt Yuliya Shvayger (Isr, 4.5).
Top-3 standings: 1. Magnus Carlsen (Nor, 7.5), 2-3. Viswanathan Anand, Hikaru Nakamura (USA, 7).
Other leading Indians: 8. Vidit Gujrathi (6.5), 12. Swapnil Dhopade (6.5); 22. S. L. Narayanan (6); 29. B. Adhiban (5.5), 40. Aravindh Chithambaram (5.5); 44. R. Praggnanandhaa (5.5); 50. S. P. Sethuraman (5), 55. Vishnu Prasanna (5), 56. D. Harika (5), 60. Nihal Sarin (5), 63. N.R. Visakh (5), 64. Swayams Mishra (5) and 67. Harsha Bharathakoti (5) .
