SECOND LOSS FOR ANAND IN NORWAY CHESS

New Delhi: Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand suffered his second defeat in the Altibox Norway chess tournament, losing to Anish Giri of the Netherlands in Round Four, at Stavanger Norway. After losing to Russia’s Vladimir Kramnik in the second round, Anand got double black and was under consistent pressure from a rejuvenated Giri, who shared the bottom place of the table with Anand ahead of the fourth round. Playing the black side of an English opening, Anand gave up the Bishop pair early in the opening. Giri also benefited thanks to his energetic play. By the 17th move, Giri took black’s remaining Bishop to boast of a double Bishop versus two Knights position wherein the computer suggested level chances but it was not so easy to play on the board. After a rude king side breakthrough, Giri was able to gain a lot of space and won a pawn on the 27th move to prove his superiority. Anand won the pawn back but his position deteriorated quickly and he accepted defeat on the 33rd move. World champion Magnus Carlsen was beaten by Armenia’s Levon Aronian and Hikaru Nakamura scored his second victory in the event at the expense of France’s Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. Aronian was at his versatile best against Carlsen as he switched gears at will to unleash a masterpiece with white pieces. The Armenian sacrificed an exchange early in the middle game and followed it up with a massive attack on black’s king.