Viswanathan Anand wins World Rapid Chess Championship title

Anand was placed joint second at the start of the final five rounds (11 to 15) yesterday, but the 48-year-old showed his fighting spirit as he came back strongly to bag the title on tie-break after a three-way tie with Fedoseev and Nepomniachtchi at 10.5 points from a possible 15. Then Anand defeated Fedoseev 2-0 in a two-game tie-break to grab the championship title. 

It seemed that a win against his arch-rival Magnus Carlsen in the ninth round gave him the much-needed boost. At the end of the fifteen rounds, Anand remained unbeaten in the competition with six wins and nine draws. The former World No 1, who had lost his overall crown to Carlsen in 2013, reclaimed the World Rapid Chess Championship title that he had won in 2003 beating Vladikir Kramnik in the final.

The title came as a big relief for Anand and he took social media after winning the title.

"The last two rapid events were nothing short of disastrous. I came here in a pessimistic frame of mind. But it has just been the most wonderful surprise. But I played well," Anand told PTI after his triumph.

The Chennai Grand Master has stated that he had had a particularly tough year coming into the event in Riyadh.

"...especially the London (Chess Classic) tournament was a big disappointment. It is not that I had high expectations of London, but still I expected to do well. But to finish in last place was a heavy blow."