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Viswanathan Anand, Xu Yuhua win World chess
Viswanathan Anand of India and Xu Yuhua of China win the men's and women's World Chess Cup crowns respectively.
- Indo-Asian News Service
- Updated: February 25, 2007 08:28 AM IST
Read Time:2 min
Hyderabad:
Viswanathan Anand of India and Xu Yuhua of China won the men's and women's World Chess Cup crowns respectively, with resounding victories over Rustam Kasimdzhanov of Uzbekistan and Antoaneta Stefanova of Bulgaria. Anand, playing white, gained a firm advantage from the opening and made short work of Kasimdzhanov in the return game after the two drew the first game on Saturday. Kasimdzhanov, pressured on both flanks, tried to stop Anand from making a decisive breakthrough but was faced with threats on the king's side. Anand's better-placed pieces ensured victory in just 29 moves. "It was a very satisfying game. I kept everything under control right till the end and I am very happy about it," said Anand. It was Anand's third major title of the year after winning the Eurotel Trophy at Prague and the Mainz Chess Classic in Mainz, Germany. He also led the World team to victory against Russia in the Match of the New Century at Moscow. In the women's championship, Yuhua also won a one-sided game against Stefanova, who had won their earlier encounter easily. Playing white, the Chinese player obtained a huge positional advantage in the initial stages of the game and improved her advantage in the middle game. Stefanova was forced to open her own king's position with a pawn move on the 14th turn. By the 21st move, Yuhua had a winning position on the boardand it took her just 10 more moves to force a resignation. "I think I played a good game. I am happy to win this tournament again," said Yuhua, who won won the women's World Chess Cup in China two years ago. (AP) Result Finals: Men: Viswanathan Anand (India) beat Rustam Kasimdzhanov (Uzbekistan) 1.5-0.5 Women: Xu Yuhua (China) beat Antoaneta Stefanova (Bulgaria)Topics mentioned in this article
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