Anand beats topalov to lift Leon title

Leon, Spain, June 12 (UNI) Undisputed master of the faster version of the game, Viswanathan Anand outsmarted FIDE world champion Veselin Topalov 2.5-1.5 to lift the title at the 19th Leon Rapid Chess Tournament here.

Proving that he is still the numero uno player when it comes to rapid chess, Anand defended well in the first game, tore apart his rival in the second and easy draws in the last two games saw him lay his fingers on the title.

He might have won the second game but Anand was more impressive in his accurate defending in game one, a Queen's Gambit Declined.

In game two, Topalov played a Berlin Defence in the Ruy Lopez, which Anand, playing with white meticulously tore apart.

In game three, a Ruy Lopez Centre Attack, Topalov could not get anything out of the opening and it was a mundane affair that ended in a draw with a slight advantage for Anand.

The final game was a cross between Sicilian Najdorf and Dragon.

Topalov's opening choice was clearly inspired by the fact that he needed to win the game to stay in the match and the black continued to take risky moves.

White was clearly better s his knight also dominated the enemy rooks and the game could have gone Anand's way but he was satisfied happy with a draw to clinch the title with a 2.5-1.5 margin.

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