Anand bags Chess Oscar for sixth time

New Delhi, May 8 (PTI) World Champion Viswanathan Anand
continued to reign supreme bagging the Chess Oscar for the
sixth time and becoming the first non-Russian to do so.

Anand received the award from International Chess
Federation (FIDE) President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov before the
start of the President's Cup, being contested between teams of
Azerbaijan and FIDE World, which started in Baku Thursday.

The Indian ace has earlier won the honour in 1997, 1998,
2003, 2004 and 2007 while Russia's Garry Kasparov has claimed
it 11 times and Bobby Fischer of America has taken it home
thrice.

The Chess Oscar is awarded by Russian chess magazine '64
- Chess Review' on the basis of a poll carried out among chess
journalists and experts. The Oscar comes in the form of a
statuette also called the "Fascinated Wanderer".

Meanwhile, in President's Cup, the FIDE World team
comprising Anand, Vladimir Kramnik of Russia, Alexei Shirov of
Spain and Sergei Karyakin of Ukrain, is leading after the
first two rounds played on the inaugural day yesterday.

The Azerbaijan team consists of Teimour Radjabov, Vugar
Gashimov, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Gadir Guseinov and Rauf
Mamedov, all above Elo 2700 ratings.

Anand defeated Gashimov to put the FIDE World team in the
lead by 4.5:3.5 points after the second round. PTI SKI
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