World Chess Championship: Anand has go for the kill before it's too late

November 20, 2014

World ChessSochi, Nov 20: The 2014 World Chess Championship is poised interestingly, as the title challenger from India, Viswanathan Anand, has to take some risk to strike soon to be in contention for the crown with Norwegian world champion Magnus Carlsen enjoying a one-point lead, say experts.

With the 12-round match nearing the closing stages, Anand's fans here have one question that is bugging their minds.

Would Anand, the Indian king of 64 squares, be able to square off the points with Carlsen first and outsmart him later to bring home the title to the country of the game's birth?

At the end of the eighth round, Carlsen leads the table with 4.5 points to Anand's 3.5 points. The first player to score 6.5 points will be crowned the new world chess champion.

At this juncture, it seems to be a difficult task but not an impossible one for Anand, experts said.

"Unless Anand can steer the next four games towards the type of positions he is comfortable with, he has little chance to come back," Susan Polgar, a four-time women's world chess champion said.

According to her, this edition of the world title match is much more closer than its previous edition played between the same players in 2013 at Chennai.

"It is more exciting. When Anand played his type of game, he did good. But when he allowed Magnus to get dry positions, Anand got in trouble. This is why opening choices is very important for Anand," Polgar said.

"Carlsen has the advantage of being one point up and only four games to be played. The last two games went in favour of Carlsen," World No.26 and Indian Grandmaster P. Harikrishna said.

"His (Carlsen's) opening preparation in both games was good and he achieved equality with black in game eight quite easily and got serious chances of winning in game seven," Harikrishna said.

According to him, Carlsen would try for a win with white pieces and a draw playing black.

"As for Anand, he has to take risk with white in game 10. However he should play steady chess. I don't think Carlsen would take risks at this stage," Harikrishna said.

Polgar does not predict any change in Carlsen's playing style and would try to squeeze as usual.

"I expect Anand to play more aggressively, especially with his two remaining white games. But he has to hold with black. I believe that he will not gamble or go all out in risky fashion until it is absolutely needed as one more loss and the match is basically over," Polgar said.

Stressing that Anand and Carlsen are great champions, Polgar hoped their fans would give them proper respect whether they win or lose the match.

"They are trying their best under immense pressure. I have been in their shoes when I played in my own world championship match so I can sympathise with them. Therefore, it is disappointing for me to see some fans insulted these champions," she said.

"It is easy when you are sitting at home with computer engines running. It is very different when you are playing in a world championship where each move of yours is being dissected and scrutinised by millions of fans. So be kind to these champions," Polgar urged fans.

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News Network
January 29,2020

Hamilton, Jan 29: India defeated New Zealand in the third T20 International via Super Over to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series here on Wednesday.

India posted a competitive 179 for five at Seddon Park after being sent into bat. Opener Rohit Sharma top scored for India with a 65-run knock while skipper Virat Kohli contributed 38 runs in team's total.

Later, skipper Kane Williamson smashed a 48-ball 95 but New Zealand faltered in the final over to take the match into the Super Over.

Needing nine runs of the last over, New Zealand lost Williamson and Ross Taylor to finish at 179 for six and tie the match.

In the Super Over, New Zealand scored 17, a target which India overwhelmed in the final ball with Rohit smashing Tim Southee for two consecutive sixes.

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January 10,2020

Srinagar, Jan 10: Real Kashmir FC made a strong comeback in the second half to play out a 1-1 draw against former champions Punjab FC in their home I-League match here on Friday.

The 'Snow Leopards' equalised in the 62nd minute through Gnohere Krizo in front of a partisan crowd of 8,500 spectators after Makan Chothe had given Punjab FC the lead in the 21st minute at the TRC ground.

After Thursday's draw, Punjab FC is placed third on the table with 10 points from seven games. Real Kashmir FC remained at eighth with six points from five matches. This was Real Kashmir's third home match on the trot.

The match was a story of two halves as the first belonged to the visitors who enjoyed a 62 per cent possession of the ball, whereas the second belonged to the home side.

Both the teams were looking to gain an early advantage and Punjab FC took the lead after 21 minutes.

Confusion inside the Real Kashmir box because of a long ball from Punjab opened up an opportunity for Chothe and he made no mistake as he smashed the ball at the back of the net.

As the fans cheered on, Real Kashmir created a flurry of chances, but none of the home side players could find the back of the net. Punjab was able to hold on to their slender lead heading into the tunnel.

The second half resumed with Real Kashmir pressing high up the field and pressurising Punjab.

In the 56th minute, Real Kashmir playmaker Kallum Higginbotham cut through two defenders on the left side of the box and the ball fell to Mason Robertson, whose shot was too weak to trouble the Punjab goalkeeper.

Soon after, it was Danish Farooq who tried a curler from a distance but his shot did not have enough bend to trouble the Punjab goalkeeper. The home team's effort finally paid off in the 62nd minute.

A miscalculated header by Danilo Augusto fell at the feet of Gnohere Krizo, who was one-on-one with the keeper. He made no mistake in striking the ball into the opponent's goal to score the equaliser.

Real Kashmir was in their groove now, and Kallum came in from the right with a beautiful low cross across the face of the goal but Mason could not get a touch as the chance went begging.

The duo of Kallum and Mason were proving difficult for Punjab to deal with. In the 82nd minute, a beautiful long ball by Kallum found the head of a towering Mason, but the effort went just over the crossbar.

Within a few moments, Punjab again had another nervous moment as Chesterpoul Lyngdoh's cross from the right side hit the arm of Thoiba Singh but the referee turned down an appeal for penalty.

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June 27,2020

Jun 27: India's Test batting mainstay Cheteshwar Pujara cannot describe in words the influence that Rahul Dravid has had on his life but says he will always remain grateful to him for teaching the importance of switching off from cricket.

Often compared to Dravid, who was considered the 'wall' of Indian cricket, Pujara said he is thankful to Dravid for teaching him how to keep personal and professional lives separate.

"He helped me understand the importance of switching off from cricket. I had the same thought, more or less, but when I spoke to him, it gave me a lot of clarity about it and I was sure of what I needed to do," he told ESPNcricinfo.

"I also saw in county cricket how they keep personal and professional lives separate. I value that advice a lot. Many people consider me to be focused. Yes, I am focused, But I also know when to switch off. There is life beyond cricket."

In his illustrious international career, Dravid amassed 13288 runs in 164 Tests and 10889 runs in 344 ODIs. He also captained India in 79 ODIs, winning 42 of them, which includes the world record of 14 successive wins while chasing.

"I cannot say in one line what Rahul bhai means to me. He has always been an inspiration, and will remain one," Pujara said.

His mental fortitude and batting technique is often compared to Dravid but Pujara said "despite my enchantment with him" he never tried to "copy him."

"There is a similarity in our games, but that's not because of my fascination with him. That came mainly through my experiences with Saurashtra, where I learned that scoring a hundred alone isn't enough, you have to carry your team," he said.

"That is how I learned responsibility - it is about helping my team to raise a big total, and for that I ought to attach importance to my wicket. I learned that from my junior cricket days with Saurashtra, which was a weaker team in domestic cricket."

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