Press Trust of India
Stavanger (Norway), June 22: Viswanathan Anand played out an easy draw as black against Hikaru Nakamura of the United States and remained in joint third position after the end of the fifth round of the Norway Chess 2015 tournament here Sunday.
Following a victory against World Champion Magnus Carlsen in the previous round and a much deserving rest day thereafter, Anand had his task cut out against Nakamura. The American had a small advantage but it remained just that as Anand played the defensive part to perfection.
Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria again got lucky as local hero Jon Ludvig Hammer blundered in a dead-drawn endgame to hand another point to the Bulgarian in a platter.
With his fourth win in the tournament, Topalov moved to 4.5 points out of a possible five. Nakamura is now a full point behind the leader while Anand and Anish Giri of Holland are on three points apiece from their five games.
The biggest news of the day however was Carlsen striking form as the Norwegian finally got going in his typical style and crushed Russian Grandmaster Alexander Grischuk. His first victory helped him reach 1.5 points from his five games.
The Nimzo Indian defence by Anand met the classical Capablanca variation wherein Nakamura got a symbolic advantage. “It’s a pleasant position for white to play, but it’s nothing massive either,” said Anand when asked how he felt.
Anand’s Knight manoeuvres were so perfect that even Nakamura could not help praising his opponent calling one manoeuvre a ‘knight fianchetto’. “You could see how my knights were defending each other nicely and were also restricting white’s Rook,” said Anand on the moment when Nakamura was trying to press for more.
As the game was played on International Yoga day the question was popped and Anand said he practiced yoga as well. “My aunt is a yoga teacher. Recently I started to do it quite a lot again. There are a few poses and stretches that I find to be healthy,” stated the Indian legend.