IndiaPost.com - Anand is undisputed world chess champion

MEXICO CITY: Viswanathan Anand regained the World Championship after a gap of nearly seven years, drawing his 14th and final round game in quick time against Hungarian Peter Leko here. Playing with white, the writing was already on the wall for the Indian ace as he just needed a draw and achieving it was never going to be too difficult given his stupendous form.

Anand secured nine points in all in the championship and also ended up as the only unbeaten player in the event. The Tiger from Madras, as he is fondly called, also became the first undisputed World Chess Champion since 1993 as this world championship was the culmination of the reunification of the chess world.

Besides, Anand will keep his number one ranking in ELO ratings due to be released on the October 1. For the records, Anand scored four victories and drew ten games for his title triumph and in fact draws in last three rounds were enough to see him through.

"It came quite easy, obviously as drawing the last three games was good enough for the championship," Anand said after the final round. It was a Marshall Gambit, the flavor of the event that gave Anand the much needed half point. Leko could not have tried much in the opening and the game petered out to a draw in just 20 moves.

It turned out to be a two-way tie for the second spot after Vladimir Kramnik of Russia scored a thumping victory over Levon Aronian of Armenia while Israeli Boris Gelfand failed to break the ice against Alexander Morozevich and had to settle for a draw. Kramnik's tiebreak proved to be superior and he was duly rewarded with second place.

With Gelfand finishing third on eight points, Leko ended up clear fourth on seven points and in a surprise finish Russian Peter Svidler defeated compatriot Alexander Grischuk to jump to fifth spot in overall rankings. Interestingly, Svidler had been trailing at the bottom for past many rounds and this was his first victory in the event.

Aronian and Morozevich tied for the sixth spot on 6 points each while Alexander Grischuk was pushed to the bottom on 5.5 following his loss against Svidler. Results final round: Viswanathan Anand (Ind, 9) drew with Peter Leko (Hun, 7); Vladimir Kramnik (Rus, 8) beat Levon Aronian (Arm, 6); Alexander Morozevich (Rus, 6) drew with Boris Gelfand (Isr, 8); Peter Svidler (Rus, 6.5) beat Alexander Grischuk (Rus, 5.5). Final Standings: 1. Anand 9 pts; 2-3. Kramnik, Gelfand 8 pts each; 4. Leko 7 pts; 5. Svidler 6.5 pts; 6-7. Morozevich, Aronian 6 pts each. 8. Grischuk 5.5 pts.