Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand lost 11-13 to his one-time arch-rival Garry Kasparov in an exhibition event at St Louis called ‘Clutch Chess: The Legends’. Despite defeat, Anand ended the three-day-long event on a winning note, after clinching the final two blitz games of the 12-game event. Overall, Kasparov won two rapid and two blitz games at St Louis while Anand won two blitz games at the end after Kasparov was already assured victory. Anand said that he was unhappy with the final result and there were times when it felt like he was engaging in “puzzle solving rather than playing a competitive chess game.” While Kasparov walked away with a prize money of $78,000 (approximately Rs 70 lakh), including the bonus, Anand, pocketed $66,000 (approximately Rs 58 lakh). “I was shocked when I didn't win game four on the first day. The next day to lose the first game on time was also completely ridiculous. So that really got to me. And in general I had the feeling that I'm not playing competitive chess. I'm playing some sort of puzzle solving or something. I don't know. I was missing the practical touch completely. Chess is not some academic conference. It's just a sport. I think I deserved this. But for all the points I did not convert, it was nice to finish with this blitz at the end… At least I don't have to hide my face when I return home,” Anand told ChessBase India in an interview after the three-day event ended in St Louis. ALSO READ | 'I deserve to be punished': Why Garry Kasparov apologised to one-time arch-rival Viswanathan Anand after Indian lost rapid game on time WATCH: Vishy Anand interview with ChessBase India The first game of day 2 has become a talking point after the former world champion from India squandered a winning position to lose on time. It was such an unexpected outcome to a game where Anand was winning that Kasparov even apologised to the Indian for the result. “I would have preferred to lose game one (of day 2) or just to force a draw which I could do easily. I would rather win game two on day 2. So it’s probably a fair balance. Of course I just totally relaxed today after game two (winning the event),” Kasparov later told grandmaster Maurice Ashley in the interview. ALSO READ | Garry Kasparov after win over Vishy Anand: ‘Ghosts of past visited him during game… his score against me historically is bad’ Anand had spent over a minute thinking of his move, when he flagged (ran out of time on the clock which means a defeat). “I saw at one point I had 1 minute, 26 seconds and then I don’t know I should have looked at the clock again. I just completely forgot and I was so absorbed in this. Then when the arbiter came (to inform him he had lost), it was the biggest shock,” Anand said after losing on time. Summing up his feelings about his performance at the whole event, Anand said with a laugh: I'm not happy, but at least it ended slightly well.”
