Anand in FIDE world championship finals
Indian chess ace Vishwanathan Anand defeated Michael Adams of England in a quick time match to win the qualifying round of the FIDE world chess championships and advance into the final, against reigning FIDE champion Anatoly Karpov.
The two grandmasters had drawn their four regular matches, playing one a day from December 26 to 29. Today, they played a total of five quick-time games before Anand emerged the winner.
At Groningen, Anand and Adams began the day by playing two games in which each player was restricted to 25 minutes to complete his moves. Having drawn these, they then played two 15-minute games and again, failed to produce a winner.
As the tension became unbearable among the spectators, Anand playing white won the fifth encounter in a display of blitzkrieg chess. As per the format, white had a mere four minutes to complete his moves, while black had five.
Adams gave up on the 65th move, Anand earlier having completed 65 moves in a few seconds less than his allotted four minutes.
Anand and Karpov will now face off for the International Chess Federation (FIDE) title at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland. The six-match event will run from January 2 to 8, with International Olympic Committee president Juan Antonio Samaranch making the symbolic opening move.
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