Anand wins Dortmund title

Viswanathan Anand added yet another feather to his well adorned cap with a title win at Sparkassen Dortmund chess championships on Sunday evening.

The Indian ace beat Vladmir Kramnik in the rapid games segment, after the two classical games were drawn in the final.

Kramnik is widely considered the king of Dortmund, having won the title many times before.

For Anand, the win in Dortmund erases memories of a poor showing in 2001.

Last year he was second, behind Viorel Bologan, who this year ended up seventh from eight competitors.

"It is great to add to win such a prestigious title," said Anand soon after the triumph.

Earlier this year, the NIIT Brand Ambassador had won the Corus Grandmasters title in Wijk Aan Zee for the fourth time, and second in succession.

With his victory in Dortmund, he has won two of the big three events played this year. He did not play in Linares.

Anand and Kramnik played two very interesting games in the classical clash. But the first one, a Ruy Lopez (closed) ended in a draw in 60 moves of an exciting and complicated battle.

In the second game, a Sicilian, it was again a tough battle with both going great guns. It again ended in a draw in 49 moves, sending the match into rapid games.

The first of the two games in rapid was in the Ruy Lopez, with Kramnik playing white. Anand succeeded in neutralizing early and ensuring a draw in just 19 moves, sending the match into the second rapid. In the event of a draw, it would have sent the match into blitz. But Anand ensured there was no such need, when he played brilliantly and had Kramnik on the mat in a Sicilian Najdorf. Anand opted for the Byrne attack with his 6. Be3 and went on to win in 31 moves.

With the Corus Grandmasters title already in his pocket this year, Anand has added another big title to his collection.

Now he moves to Mainz for the clash with Alexy Shriov. Anand is the defending champion and has won four times in a row in the Chess Classic of Mainz.

He will also represent India at the Olympiad in Calvia, Spain, later this year in October.

In the other placing matches, Peter Svidler got the better of Peter Leko and took the third place while Arkadij Naiditsch came into his own in the placings matches, beating Sergei Rublevsky to finish fifth.

Bologan, a surprise winner last year, ended seventh one place ahead of the baby of the tournament, Sergey Karjakin.

In the semi-finals, Anand had beaten Peter Leko in rapid games, while Kramnik got the better of Peter Svidler.