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Shirov wins Amber chess

Indian Grandmaster Vishwanathan Anand drew his last two games and finished fifth overall as Alexi Shirov, the Lativia-born Spaniard, won the Amber chess title in Monte Carlo this evening.

Anand finished second in blindfold and seventh in rapid.

Shirov, who led right through the tournament, spoilt his unbeaten record in the last round but still managed to win the title. He lost his blindfold game to Vassily Ivanchuk, but had earlier drawn the rapid game to ensure the title. His closest rival, Veselin Topalov, lost his rapid game to lowly-placed Ljubomir Ljubojevic, but drew his blindfold game.

In blindfold, Anand complicated his game against Gelfand after the 18th move, when he sacrificed a piece. He did get two pawns but it did not seem sufficient compensaton. Still both players were happy to draw after 37 moves as the tournament came to an end.

The Anand-Gelfand rapid clash was a theoretical battle in the Sicilian Najdorf. Gelfand came up with a new idea on the 14th move with his rc8. But it did not fetch him any great tangible advantage. Anand was happy to draw the sharp game.

In the final standings, Shirov was first, with Ivanchuk and Vladimir Kramnik joint second. Kramnik drew both his last round games against Anatoly Karpov.

Kramnik topped the blindfold section with 7.5 points and Anand was joint second with Topalov with seven points. In rapid Shirov was tops with 8.5 points and Topalov second with eight.

In his first rapid game, Shirov did not take any risk against Ivanchuk. In the Ruy Lopez, the light pieces were exchanged in the centre, after which a double rook ending was left. This led to an expected draw. Shirov, who remained unbeaten in the rapid competition, then began watching the game between Ljubojevic and Veselin Topalov. The position was equal and then suddenly Topalov blundered and after prolonging the agony, he resigned on the 48th move.

It gave Ljubojevic his first win in the rapid and also ended the theorectcial chance Topalov had of catching up with Shirov.

Meanwhile Topalov again blundered against Ljubojevic in blindfold. He was in a winning rook endinig but lost a crucial pawn and then managed a draw.

In blindfold, Shirov lost his unbeaten record in the tournament and so lost out on a unique chance to become the first Amber champion to finish a tournament undefeated in all games.

In the last game of his impressive tournament, he lost to Ivanchuk, who played very well. It was a tactical game in which shirov resigned after 26 moves.

Results of round 11:

Rapid: Karpov drew with Kramnik; Anand drew with Gelfand; Shriov drew with Ivanchuk; Ljubojevic beat Topalov; Van Wely beat Nikolic; Lautier drew with Piket.

Blindfold: Kramnik drew with Karpov; Gelfand drew with Anand; Ivanchuk beat Shirov; Topalov drew with Ljubojevic; Nikolic lost to Van Wely; Piket drew with Lautier.

Final standings:

Rapidplay: 1. Shirov 8.5; 2. Ivanchuk 8; 3.Topalov, Van Wely 6.5; 5. Gelfand, Kramnik 6; 7. Anand 5.5; 8. Karpov 5; 9. Piket 4.5; 10. Nikolic 3.5; 11. Lautier and Ljubojevic 3.

Blindfold: 1. Kramnik 7.5; 2. Anand, Topalov 7; 4. Shirov 6.5; 5. Gelfand, Piket 6; 7. Ivanchuk 5.5; 8. Karpov 5; 9 Lautier 4.5; 10. Ljubojevic, Van Wely 4; 12. Nikolic 3.

Overall standings: 1. Shirov 15 2. Ivanchuk and Kramnik; Toplaov 13.5; 5. Anand 12.5; 6. Gelfand 12; 7. Piket, Van Wely 10.5; 9 Karpov 10; 10. Lautier 7.5; 11. Ljubojevic 7, 12. Nikolic 6.5.

UNI