Norway Chess: Anand out of contention after losing to Caruana

TIL Desk Sports/ Five-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand’s chances of a top three finish ended after he went down fighting to Fabiano Caruana of United States in the Armageddon game at the Altibox Norway chess here. The Indian slipped to joint seventh place in ranking with just two rounds to go in one of the strongest event of the year.

Anand had to hold himself with black and he survived many anxious and nearly catastrophic positions under the normal time control to force a draw under the Classical game.  Caruana went to the extent of calling it “embarrassing”, as the American was close to being on top for several moves but still the victory deserted him.

However in the tiebreaker, which is the new world order in Chess to make it a decisive sport in every game played, the native Italian turned American was spot on in the Italian opening.  Anand could not get the counterplay he is famous for and a systematic attack led to a complete collapse on the king side.