India’s Viswanathan Anand lost to Wesley So in the final of the Leon Chess Masters on Monday.
Anand, who was trying to win his 10th title, could not keep So at bay as he prevailed in the blitz tie-breaks after the four rapid games had all finished in draws.
In the first of the four rapid games, Anand was pushing while playing with black pieces, but settled for a draw in 39 moves.
In the second, USA’s So played the French and took up a superior position in the Winawer variation.
The momentum kept shifting to either sides through the game. But it was So who took the upper-hand as he pushed Anand into a corner. The Indian Grandmaster did well to comeback into the game and drew the game.
Anand pulled off another fighting performance in the third game to earn a draw against an aggressive So.
The two played off a classic battle in the fourth, but the game too ended in a draw as they headed into the blitz tie-break.
Anand, though, faltered in the blitz early on. He could never quite receover from it and lost the first round. So made a bright opening to the next blitz game and let it slip away and earned a draw from there to claim the Leon title on his first attempt.