Anand crushes Wang Hao in Tata chess tourney

By Our Chess Correspondent

Wijk Aan Zee (The Netherlands) Jan 18 (PTI) WorldChampion Viswanathan Anand crashed through the defenses ofWang Hao of China in the fourth round of the 73rd Tata SteelChess tournament here today.

With his second win in the championship, Anand took histally to three points out of a possible four and is likely tobe among leaders after other games of this 14-players roundrobin tournament end.

The day also witnessed a quick-fire victory by LevonAronian of Armenia who outwitted Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russiawith white pieces. Apparently it was a brilliant opening ideain the Grunfeld Indian defense that gave Aronian his first winin the tournament after three draws.

Anand was class apart from Wang Hao in one of theextensively analysed variations in the Nimzo Indian defense.

Playing black, Wang Hao faced a piece sacrifice from theIndian ace for just a pawn in the early middle game butconsistent pressure ensued.

Anand cast the dye in his favour by creating threats onthe queen side and central files that forced Wang Hao to partwith two pieces for a rook. There were no troubles thereafterfor Anand as his menacing pawns along with the Bishop paircreated irresistible threats. Wang Hao resigned in just 33moves.

"This was part of preparation for the World Championshipmatch against Kramnik at Bonn," said Anand after the game.

"We (his team) had looked at this piece sacrifice findingit to be very pleasant for white and had moved on to the nextproblem. On the board today I liked it even more," he added.

Earlier in the day, Anand was held to a draw by localhopeful Erwin L''Ami in the third round of Group ''A''.

Aronian won after a queen sacrifice in the middle gamethat gave him a handful of pieces. Nepomniachtchi could notreally put up best resistance on under pressure and collapsedto lend himself in a lost position. It was all over in a mere26 moves.

The remaining five games of the category-20 supertournament were still in progress. The event is being playedunder Classical time control with 100 minutes at the start forfirst 40 moves, 50 minutes for next 20 and finally 15 minutesto end the game with a 30 seconds increment after every moveis played.