Surya Sekhar stuns Anand, Nakamura reigns supreme
Kolkata: There was heartbreak for reigning world rapid champion Viswanathan Anand who lost to local challenger and his former second Surya Sekhar Ganguly in the final round to finish seventh with eight draws and one loss the Tata Steel Chess India Rapid tournament here.
India's Pentala Harikrishna secured two wins on the last day but could only finish second, half a point behind Japanese-American wizard Hikaru Nakamura who lived up to his top billing to clinch the tournament.
Indian prodigy Nihal Sarin had a creditable draw against the five-time former world champion Anand and finished ninth with three points — six draws and three losses.
"It was my first super tournament and I think the result is not bad with six draws from nine games," Sarin, the soft-spoken 14-year-old from Thrissur, said.
Facing Anand for the first time in a tournament, Ganguly opted for the solid Caro-Kann defence against the King pawn opening.
But, the game took an aggressive turn when Ganguly went for the initiative and started to risk and advance his own pawns against Anand's kingside.
The game was fairly in the balance before, two consecutive mistakes on the 26th and 27th move by Anand gave Ganguly a huge initiative.
Ganguly sacrificed his Bishop with Bxg3 on the 31st move destroying Anand's King's cover.
The attack and the initiative was too strong and Anand stretched out his hand in resignation on the 37th move.
"Let's get it straight — I attacked Anand all out as I was strategically busted. There was no other option. It was very special that I was playing Anand for the first time. I was enjoying the moment and the entire game," Ganguly said after his solitary win of the tournament.
Ganguly lost five matches and drew thrice to finish last in the 10-player competition.
"It feels good that finally I didn't spoil an advantage. In this tournament, number of times I was in a good position but could not capitalise. It was getting a bit frustrating," Ganguly said.
Having won three on the trot on Saturday, Nakamura drew all his three rounds on the final day to finish undefeated with six points from a maximum nine and seal the issue in the India's first super tournament.
