This mighty rapid KO (sparse official site) looked like it was being held in a retirement home after watching the similarly formatted Cap d'Agde youth movement just a few weeks ago. Finalist Anand probably has t-shirts older than Magnus Carlsen. The victor (not the Victor he beat in the quarters) of the 10th Corsica Masters was Uzbekistan's former FIDE world champion Rustam Kasimdzhanov, whose rapid chess acumen is deservedly famous. Of course so is Anand's, although in his case it's not in contrast to classical results. Bacrot did better in Corsica than he did in Cap d'Agde, where he was eliminated in the quarters by eventual winner Radjabov.
The decisive game in the Anand-Kasimdzhanov Corsica final was an old favorite line of Karpov's in the Ruy Lopez. In fact they followed a Kasparov-Karpov match game, the phenomenally complicated game 16 of the 1986 rematch, to move 20. (Today is the 21st anniversary of Kasparov's ascent to the crown, btw. But I doubt this game was intended as a tribute.) Anand has played the white side of this line a few times, including in his 96 PCA candidates final against Kamsky. Some analysis of that Kasparov-Karpov game included the game line, but Anand put his rook on e3 earlier instead of taking on b5 first. This meant he didn't have the option of Bxd3, allowing Black's equalizing 23..Rxe4. I.e. the way it was played before White would have the option of taking on d3 or playing Re3. And if Re3 is inferior there it can't be much good earlier unless White can make use of that move earlier.
Then things got wild when Kasimdzhanov went for the gusto with 24..Nxf2 and Anand failed to display his typically magical defensive abilities. He missed a very pretty combination that left Black ahead a pawn plus position and Kasim's nerves didn't fail him. In the second game he successfully used the white pieces not to lose. This is the second year in a row Anand hasn't won in Corsica. Last year he lost in the final to Milov. Since we're the same age I hope this doesn't mean he's on the decline.
I think that the guy who was elimenated by Kasim in the 4ers is VIOREL Bologan (It's not Victor...). OK?
I know, but he often goes by Victor these days and I'm all for bending reality to fit a joke.
Congratulations to Kasim for winning Corsica, showing once more why he has a great reputation of being one of the strongest rapid players in the world (unfortunately, as Mig mentions, is not the same case with classical chess).
In a November 9 ...
- Kasparov is crowned World Chess Champion.
- People start demolishing the Berlin Wall.
- Mikhail Tal was born.
Biologically, it's all downhill from age 28.
I hope it is not downhill for Anand. I would like to see Anand as unified champion for some time. :-)
Hope in Mexico 2007 he proves his supremacy.
Mig.. if possible could you please throw some light on the relationship between Kasparov and Anand? The undeniable #1 and #2?
Anand on the wane? Maybe, but he did win Mainz this year very comfortably. Even here he casually disposed off the competition before the final. Perhaps it was just a bad day.
I wish Naka would be invited to some of these rapid events w/ the big boys. I saw him slay Kasim on ICC for a few games of blitz in a row, and then he made one of his trademark arrogant quips,"So this guy is world champ?, pathetic!"
"Then things got wild when Kasimdzhanov went for the gusto with 24..Nxf2 and Anand failed to display his typically magical defensive abilities. He missed a very pretty combination that left Black ahead a pawn plus position and Kasim's nerves didn't fail him. In the second game he successfully used the white pieces not to lose. This is the second year in a row Anand hasn't won in Corsica. Last year he lost in the final to Milov. Since we're the same age I hope this doesn't mean he's on the decline."
I don't view it as a question of decline for Anand. Kasimdzhanov is not exactly a "bete noire" of Anand (indeed, his career results vs Vishy have not been all that stellar), but he always arrives ready for a fight. In truth, Anand has already won many of his rapid games even before the 1st move is made. Players are cowed by Vishy (especially in rapid chess), in the same way that they used to be intimidated by Kasparov.
Of course, it is possible that Anand's "tactical scan" of the board has slowed down a bit. That may have deleterious effects for his rapid chess results. But there is no reason to assume that Anand's loss of his mantle of invincibility in the realm of rapid chess presages a decline in Classical chess.
"I wish Naka would be invited to some of these rapid events w/ the big boys."
This was an open tournament (well, open to +2100 players), so it really wasn't a question of not being invited. However, he is one of the first reserves for the big ACP event, so if someone bows out of that one, he might get in. Depends on who withdraws, since there are two lists of qualifiers and two lists of reserves.