NIIT Brand Ambassador Viwswanathan Anand achieved his best result in a FIDE Event when he won the inaugural North Group Cup World Cup Chess tournament beating Evgeny Bareev of Russia in the second game fo 1.5 - 0.5 aggregate points on Wednesday Morning.

In his victory, Anand remained the only undefeated player, men or women. His victory over Bareev came in 38 moves when the Russian collapsed while defending the black side and lost easily than unexpectedly.

Soon after the games were over, prize money cheques were handed over by FIDE Treasurer after deducting 20% tax. Anand received $40,000 ( about 18.40 lakhs) and Bareev $24,000.

Anand opened with the king pawn and just as they played in their several of their encounters it was the same French defence. This last round started at 9.AM ( IST 6.30 PM) and the players were surprised to know it. It was in the programme and breakfast was available half an hour earlier than usual. All four players needed wake up calls and it was like excursion on the last day.

It was a French defence opening , and no surprise. After white's 18th move , Bareev broke off for a long thought. White's tiny advantage was based on the backward pawn of black on e6. Further white's advantages is tangible in all pawn and rook endings. Black's best hope was a draw. Anand was restless, walking at the stage and below several times during this move.

Black's pawn sacrifice on the 22nd move was an attempt to play aggresively with a pawn less rather than sit back in a tight corner and defend fro the rest of the game. White was threatening 23.Nf4-d3-c5 and black would find himself hard pressed to counter the threats posed by this well placed knights.

White sacrificed the rook for bishop in exchange for two pawns and was well placed after 27 moves having a knight and two pawns for the rook. That's what the text book recommends as equal but in endgames , specially with a passed pawns such as the one Anand had on the queen's bishop file , black's positon had to be termed as dangerous.

During this game , both players turned down draw offers once. Obviously, Anand's chances in the tie-breaks would have been much better.

It was an embarrassing day for chief arbiter Ignatious Leong of Singapore. As ususal, he announced all players and spectators to switsh off their pagers and mobile phones but he forgot his own phone. When the question of lawmaker turning lawbreaker, it sparked laughter mid-way through the otherwise silent session.

Soon the dangerous passed pawn turned into a platform for white's tricks to win. In a pathetic position with his back to the wall, Bareev desperately tried to sacrifice his two rooks for a pawn promotion. But Anand had seen it a step deeper and was prepared to win the queen with a rook check an Bareev resigned.

In their analysis, Anand said black was not doing badly but needed patience than break the centre.

Speaking to The Hindu, Anand said after the sacrifice of the rook for minor piece white was having the upper hand in most lines. "I did not expect him to collapse like this," said Anand.

"Anand makes winning look so easy," said one of the arbiters. Bareev's decisive mistake which made a difference between fighting and losing was the 22nd move. Later, speaking to this correspondent, Bareev said he was lucky to qualify from the Group and also in some of the knock out games of the competion. He said, "Vishy is a better player."

Courtesy :
The Hindu,
14th September 2000.