Vishy Anand retains the World Championship title
The World Chess Championship is over. It is over because with so many draws interest almost dried-up. Adams called it ‘tenatative’, Barden branded it ‘turgid’ and Pein went one better. “Sleepathon”. And Keene gave Gelfand no chance.
To be fair it is hard to know what to say. The games were accurate and the fruits of fantastic preparation. Gelfand’s loss in Game 8, a seventeen move fiasco, was the shortest game in World Championship history. Previously an 1886 curio from Steinitz-Zukertort held the unenviable record.
Kasparov, who visited to ‘lend his presence’ and give a simul, spoke of Anand’s slide downhill. In reality the Indian did all that might be required of a champion who has enjoyed fewer privileges than several of his predecessors.
After the alloted dozen games were played and a 6-6 scoreline emerged four rapidplay games were contested. 2.5-1.5 was the score, Vishy winning the second game.
The instant books will now appear, the press conferences will be edited, the DVDs will be sold and, of course, the databases updated. Can I go now?
