Topseed
Indian Grand Master Viswanathan Anand started the millennium on a victorius note, winning
the 629 player Plus GSM World Blitz Chess Cup by half a point on Sunday Jan 10, 2000. The
event was held near Warsaw in Poland at the Sports Hall of the Military Technical Academy.
In a show of strength proportionate to his talent, Anand scored 14 wins, drew 7 games and
lost a lone game to GM Akopian scoring 14.5 points from 22 games.Anand's victory over GM Anatoly Karpov in
the eighth round was a turning point, when he went on to consolidate his lead for a memorable
title win in his year opener. Anand picks up the winners trophy and USD 10000 for his
title.
After the event, Anand added
"playing 22 games at five minutes each, you are bound to make a few mistakes. It is
difficult to maintain your peak form of concentration throughout the whole period. In all
I am satisfied with my performance."
"Against Akopian I missed a
one move mate and thereafter played carefully" said Anand. Both players won games
with the black pieces for a 1-1 overall result. At home in quick chess, Anand blitzed out
his opponents in his ever maturing positional style. "I played a sensible and stable
tournament making draws when required and never overstretched" said Anand on his
Polish conquest.
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