Khanty Mansiysk (Russia):
Chennai's Viswanathan Anand has become the second oldest player in Fide World chess championship history (since 1946) to earn a rematch. He will have another opportunity to overcome Norway's Magnus Carlsen, having lost to him at home in November 2013.
Anand, 44, drew his 13th and penultimate round game with the youngest GM ever, Sergei Karjakin of Russia and totalled eight points in the eight-player Candidates tournament. Five others have 6.5 points, making it impossible for them to catch up with Anand.
To earn a World championship re-match at 44 is a remarkable achievement by Anand. It is a triumph of will power, patience, endurance, stamina and an appetite to be number one.
For Anand it was an unsual experience not to have won a game during his Chennai defeat.
Only Viktor Korchnoi at 50 was older than Anand when he secured a rematch with Analoly Karpov in 1981. Mikhail Botvinnik also overcame Mikhail Tal in 1961 at the age of 50 but Botvinnik was given a direct rematch.
At the start of Saturday's round in Khanty Mansiysk (Russia), a draw was not enough. However, top seed Levon Aronian lost his game to world No. 43 Dmitry Andreikin and did Anand a good turn. Therefore, a draw was enough for Anand. Karjakin agreed to a draw only after a gruelling 91-move session.
Anand was modest at today's achivement. At the press conference, he admitted, "I won't deny... this result (winning the Candidates title) is one of the most pleasant surprises that I have had recently."
He agreed that none of the other players in the eight-player meet could get expected results (points). Anand said, "At this stage of the Candidates last year, two players were +4 (difference between number of wins and defeats; and other two were +2. The overall score was +12. But here (in Khanty Mansiysk), only I'm in plus (others are either equal or minus). It's quite strange. The point is they are not having fewer wins or losses (once they have hit the rough, they have not recovered)."
What has helped Anand greatly during the Candidates is his solidity and risk-free chess.
Will it be enough against Carlsen?
Legendary Kasparov tweeted: "Anand will be underdog to Carlsen, clearly."
One thing is for sure. Anand will be better prepared this time.
