Norway's Carlsen claims world chess crown
Norwegian prodigy Magnus Carlsen claimed the crown of world chess champion on Friday after drawing a tense 10th game against holder Viswanathan Anand to take an unassailable lead in the 12-round duel.
The 22-year-old Carlsen, the current world number one, won three games and drew seven to achieve the victory mark of 6.5 points in a one-sided contest in the Indian's home city of Chennai.
Anand, who at 43 is 21 years older than his rival, lost the title he has held since 2007 despite a last-gasp fight in an attritional 130-move game on Friday that lasted four hours and 45 minutes.
With Carlsen having sealed the championship match, the last two games scheduled on Sunday and Monday have been cancelled.
Both players signed the chess board before heading to a joint press conference where Anand admitted he had "blundered" again in the final game and said sorry to his fans.
"As for the match in general it's clear that he dominated. At the start of the match I thought my chances depended on my ability to last long games without making a lot of mistakes," said Anand.
"This year I've had a lot of problems with mistakes creeping into my play."
Carlsen will win 60 percent of the total prize fund of $2.24 million, while Anand takes home the rest.
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The 22-year-old Carlsen, the current world number one, won three games and drew seven to achieve the victory mark of 6.5 points in a one-sided contest in the Indian's home city of Chennai.
Anand, who at 43 is 21 years older than his rival, lost the title he has held since 2007 despite a last-gasp fight in an attritional 130-move game on Friday that lasted four hours and 45 minutes.
With Carlsen having sealed the championship match, the last two games scheduled on Sunday and Monday have been cancelled.
Both players signed the chess board before heading to a joint press conference where Anand admitted he had "blundered" again in the final game and said sorry to his fans.
"As for the match in general it's clear that he dominated. At the start of the match I thought my chances depended on my ability to last long games without making a lot of mistakes," said Anand.
"This year I've had a lot of problems with mistakes creeping into my play."
Carlsen will win 60 percent of the total prize fund of $2.24 million, while Anand takes home the rest.
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