Anand happy with Amber show

PUNE: When the going is not easy, a stroke of genius is enough for glory.
The cerebral musings of V Anand couldn’t help him top either in blindfold or in rapid at Monte Carlo last week. But that couldn’t keep him away from regaining the Amber chess title. Anand’s combined tally of 14.5 was a point clear of other Super Grandmasters (GM). Despite a better score in rapid, Anand refused to agree that he fared better in that format.“My blindfold and rapid scores were both very good,� wrote Anand in an email to this paper before returning to his base in Spain.
“I played some of the best chess in the blindfold. My game against Almasi was quite a difficult game where I managed to outplay him slowly,� stated Anand.
As it proved, that marathon win was just an appetiser. There was another Anand special in the last round against the dangerous Bulgarian, Veselin Topalov: a draw with black pieces. The game lasted only 17 moves, but it was rich in depth. When the world No. 3 Indian finished the game and ensured the title, the press centre, full of chess purists, gave him a warm round of applause.
About this game against Topalov, Anand stated: “It was easily one of the best blindfold games I have played. I used a queenside thrust to counter the Sveshnikov (an attack against Sicilian defence). This being blindfold was not very easy.�
In blindfold, players see the board only after a move by an opponent. And they can see only a moved piece and its position on the board.
Anand has continued his heart-warming ways with magical manoeuvres despite a rough treatment by the world governing body, Federation Internationale Des Echecs (Fide), in their unification World Championship plans. “The unification process was not just to many players including myself. I do not wish to waste time on this issue any longer. Hopefully, the next cycle will be a just one,� stated Anand.