Grand Chess Tour: Anand pushed to tied fifth spot after twin losses

Anand was in line for the title after beating Caruana but losses to Karjakin and Le Quang Liem made him tumble at the Grand Chess Tour.

Viswanathan Anand plots a move. (File Photo)

After a resounding victory over Fabiano Caruana, Viswanathan Anand lost in the last two rounds and finished tied fifth in the rapid phase of the Grand Chess Tour Superbet rapid and blitz chess championship here on Friday.

Anand (4.5) was in line for the title after beating Caruana but losses to Russia’s Sergey Karjakin and Vietnam’s Le Quang Liem made him tumble.

Ukraine’s Anton Korobov, the overnight leader, drew all three rounds to take the title with six points.Shakhriyar Mamedyrov, Levon Aronian and Anish Giri tied for the second spot at five points.

Now the action moves to the blitz format when 18 rounds will be played over the weekend.

The results (rapid format):

Ninth round: Viswanathan Anand lost to Le Quang Liem (Vie); Anton Korobov (Ukr) drew with Fabiano Caruana (USA); Levon Aronian (Arm) drew with Anish Giri (Ned); Vladislav Artemiev (Rus) drew with Wesley So (USA); Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Aze) drew with Sergey Karjakin (Rus).

Eighth round: Karjakin bt Anand; Giri drew with Korobov; Le Quang Liem drew with Artemiev; Caruana lost to Mamedyarov; So lost to Aronian.

Seventh round: Anand bt Caruana; Korobov drew with Aronian; Mamedyarov bt Giri; Le Quang Liem drew with So; Artemiev lost to Karjakin.

Final standings: 1. Korobov (6 points), 2-4. Mamedyarov, Aronian, Giri (5 each), 5-6. Karjakin, Anand (4.5 each); 7-9. Le Quang Liem, Artemiev, Caruana (5 each) and So (3).