Anand pockets the Title at Linares and also the FIDE World No. 1 Ranking!

LINARES, March 11:

GM Viswanathan Anand capped a wonderful fortnight with not just the title at he Morelia-Linares Super Grandmasters chess tournament but also ensured that he would be World NO. 1 in the list of ratings to be released in April. It marked the first time in a decade that Anand, who has been in world’s top-3 for last 15 years that he will officially be rated as No. 1 in the world. He did win the Wrld Championships in 2000 but then Garry Kasparov was No.1 in the world.

In the final round, Anand eschewed all risks and played a draw as Vassily Ivanchuk, too, was satisfied with the result. That took his tally to 8.5 points and what made the Indian star’s task easier was that Magnus Carlsen his closest rival lost his final round to Peter Leko.

Anand won by a full point at 8.5 points and Topalov ended shared last with Leko with six points.

In another surprise result Alexander Morozevich beat Peter Svidler, so in the end Morozevich shared second with Magnus Carlsen.

Anand's performance was 2816, while Topalov ended at a dismal 2691 giving the NIIT sponsored Anand the number one rating on FIDE's April 1st list.

Carlsen's shared second and his sterling 2778 performance is truly remarkable for a 16-year-old who was the tournament's underdog. At the start some writers were bemoaning the decision of the organisers to include a "rabbit" in such a great event. The young players was superb and just half of his games were drawn, producing four wins and three losses on his score card.

Exactly the same result was achieved by the mercurial Morozevich, though while Magnus was first or second on the table during the entire tournament, Moro started by firmly occupying last in the first half of the event.

Peter Svidler had a constant tournament of sorts, drawing all his games in Morelia and winning one and losing one in Linares. His 50% score is twenty points better than his nominal 2728 rating. Aronian's 50% was almost exactly what you would expect from a 2744 player.

The big disappointment, apart from Veselin Topalov, was Peter Leko, who played 53 points worse than his 2749 rating – and was saved from an even more dismal result by his final round victory over Magnus Carlsen.

Anand and Ivanchuk with white was involved in a Queen’s Indian game that ended in a draw in 31 moves. With Carlsen losing, it was fine for Anand, who won by a full point for one of his best results.

Svidler lost to Moro in French defence over 28 moves, while Topalov and Aronian,the only one to beat Anand in this tournament, drew in Queen’s Indian in 20 moes and Leko beat Carlsen in 53 moves of another Queen’s Indian.

Anand last won in Linares in 1998.

Results of Round 14:

• Svidler lost to Morozevich; Ivanchuk drew with Anand; Topalov drew with Aronian;
• Leko beat Carlsen

Final Round 14 Standings:
1. Anand, Viswanathan IND 2779 8.5;
2. Carlsen, Magnus NOR 2690 7.5;
3. Morozevich, Alexander RUS 2741 7.5;
4. Aronian, Levon ARM 2744 7.0;
5. Svidler, Peter RUS 2728 7.0;
6. Ivanchuk, Vassily UKR 2750 6.5;
7. Topalov, Veselin BUL 2783 6.0;
8. Leko, Peter HUN 2749 6.0;