PICS: Anand, Karpov take on dozens of chess players in Jerusalem

IMAGE: India's former World chess champion Viswanathan Anand plays simultaneous matches against Israeli kids during an event marking Israel's 70th anniversary at Jerusalem's Old City's Jaffa Gate, on Monday. Photograph: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters

Anatoly Karpov and Viswanathan Anand, two former World champions, took on dozens of children and teenagers in simultaneous chess games in Jerusalem on Monday as hundreds of onlookers watched.

The two Grandmasters were visiting Israel as part of the Jewish state's 70th anniversary celebrations.

IMAGE: Former Russian World chess champion Anatoly Karpov plays simultaneous matches against Israeli kids. Photograph: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters

Karpov faced 25 opponents and Anand took on 29 players outdoors in the afternoon sunshine with Jerusalem's walled Old City as a backdrop.

Russian Karpov, 66, was World champion between 1975-85 and 1993-99, and 48-year-old Anand, from India, ruled the boards between 2000-2002 and 2007-13 before being succeeded by current World champion, Magnus Carlsen of Norway.

Source: REUTERS
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