Anand wins the decider & his fifth world cup crown

Moscow: Reigning World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand defeated Challenger Boris Gelfand of Israel in the Rapid tie-breaks 2.5-1.5 to win the World Chess Championship for the fifth time.

This is also a hat-trick of sorts in Classical Chess. Anand had won in 2007 in Mexico in tournament format then defeated Vladimir Kramnik under Classical format in 2008 at Bonn, then won against Veselin Topalv in 2010 and now against Gelfand.

Today when it mattered most, the ‘Speed King” once again justified the tag which has been following him and he was also at his tactical best be it in attack and defence.

“It was a tough match and I am too tense now to feel anything, more a sense of relief” said the 42-year-old champion sounding weary and tired after the game.

The 12 Game Match had resulted in a 6-6 deadlock and the tie-breaks were needed to decide the title.
The first game of the rapid where each player had 25 minutes on the clock with 10 seconds increment for every move ended in a draw after 32 moves. Anand defended nicely with Black pieces once again opting for the Slav defence.

However there was excitement with Anand wielding Whites in the second game. It was once again a Sicilian Rossolimo and Anand won a pawn in the middle-game.

Anand played a novelty on the 7th turn and once again the queens were exchanged rather early. Thereafter it was a tactical battle between the minor pieces. Anand did appear better and
Thereafter in an intense battle, Anand played fast and Gelfand committed a blunder and ended on the losing side after 77 moves.

Anand looked in trouble in the third game but wriggled out with a draw and needing just a draw in the fourth game played solidly to earn the vital half point after 56 moves.