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Anand draws with Nakamura to stay in joint lead in St Louis
ST LOUIS: Viswanathan Anand continued with his fine form even though a victory eluded him against nemesis Hikaru Nakamura of United States in the third round of
ST LOUIS: Viswanathan Anand continued with his fine form even though a victory eluded him against nemesis Hikaru Nakamura of United States in the third round of the Sinquefield Cup, a part of the Grand Chess Tour.
Nakamura holds a 7-1 record against Anand in Classical games and many believed that the gap will be bridged a little the way Anand masterminded an attack on the American’s king.
However, the game fizzled out to a draw after an entertaining tussle. Anand took his tally to two points out of a possible three in the USD 300000 prize money tournament and the Indian ace can now look up to the remaining rounds with optimism having played three of the five players rated above him here.
Unlike the first two rounds, there was not decisive game on the third day and five draws between 10 players meant that the standings remained unchanged with six rounds still to go. Anand continues to be at the top of the tables along with Wesley So of United States, Armenia’s Levon Aronian and Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria on two points.
KNOX KNOCKING ON RYDER CUP DOOR
CONNECTICUT: Russell Knox sank a 12-foot par putt at the final hole to win the Travelers Championship in Connecticut by one shot on Sunday, moving the Scot into contention for a place on the European team at next month’s Ryder Cup.
Knox is a dual British and United States citizen and although he carries two passports, the 31-year-old left no doubt where his loyalties lie after carding a 68 to finish at 14-under-par 266 at River Highlands in Cromwell.
“My dad was born in California so I have dual nationality. I’m not sure there’s ever been someone in my position before but I’m Scottish down to the core so I’ll be on team Europe hopefully,” the Inverness-born Knox told reporters.
Knox claimed the title after getting up-and-down from a green-side bunker on the final hole to edge out American veteran Jerry Kelly, who signed for a 64 then watched the action unfold on TV in the scoring trailer.
FOOTBALL TEAM IN BHUTAN FOR FRIENDLY
NEW DELHI: The Indian football team on Monday landed in Thimphu for their upcoming friendly practice match against Bhutan, slated to be played on August 13. Coach Constantine said the squad needs to acclimatise quickly to the colder temperatures and high altitude in Bhutan.
“I don’t think the weather in Bhutan will be a concern. Obviously the temperatures will be quite different from what we have at present in India,” he said in an All India Football Federation (AIFF) release.
