Newstrack India
Feb 18 2008
Aronian upsets Anand
New Delhi, Mon, 18 Feb 2008 NI Wire
Armenia’s Levon Aronian scored an upset victory over World champion
Viswanathan Anand, after cashing on the gaffe made by India’s top
ranked player on the 30th move in the second round of the
Morelia-Linares chess tournament being played at Morelia in Mexico on
Saturday.
After first round convincg victory over Alexei Shirov, Anand knocked
down himself to an appalling blunder on move 30 in his game against
Levon Aronian, who bounced back after facing first round defeat.
Playing with white pieces, Anand made out a blunder with his
knight-move on the 30th turn in Ruy Lopez game, and lost the battle
after 34 moves after facing checkmate. Aronian chose his favourite
Marshall’s attack over the reigning World champion.
In the other crucial battle of the day, Ukraine’s Vassily Ivanchuk
defeated Peter Leko. Leko similarly lost the plot around move 38
against Ivanchuk and gave up full point.
Azebiazan’s Teimour Radjabov had to settle for a draw after a
promising start against Veselin Topalov, while Spaniard Shirov and
Carlson also split points.
RESULTS (Second Round):
Viswanathan Anand (Ind, 1) lost to Levon Aronian (Arm, 1); Vassily
Ivanchuk (Ukr. 1.5) bt Peter Leko (Hun, 1).
Teimour Radjabov (Aze, 0.5) drew with Veselin Topalov (Bul, 1.5);
Alexei Shirov (Esp, 0.5) drew with Magnus Carlsen (Nor, 1).