Anand Rapid champion, second overall

Viswanathan Anand duly clinched the Rapid title of the Amber Blindfold and Rapid chess tournament and finished second overall, as his old rival Vladimir Kramnik emerged winner in Blindfold and overall sections.

Both Kramnik and Anand drew their last round games against Paco Vallejo and Boris Gelfand respectively.

Kramnik finished with nine points out of 11 in Blindfold and 15.5 overall, while Anand topped Rapid with 8.5, two points clear of four-man pack including Kramnik, Carlsen, Leko and Ivanchuk.

In the Blindfold game between Boris Gelfand and Anand, Black (Anand) introduced an early novelty that gave him an equal game. In the phase that followed Anand played very 'natural', and equalised easily.

After only 19 moves the players agreed a draw. Later Anand realized that he did have a winning chance.

The Rapid game saw sets of pieces leaving the board one after another. After 22 moves they found themselves in an ending that didn't look too exciting and they agreed for a draw.

Kramnik won the prestigious Blindfold and Rapid event for the sixth time, following earlier victories in 1996, 1998 (shared with Shirov), 1999, 2001 (shared with Topalov) and 2004 (shared with Morozevich).

Anand has won this title five times. Before this year's event, Kramnik had also won five times, but has now won it for sixth time.

Anand's win came in 1994, 1997, 2003, 2005 and in 2006 he was tied first with Alexander Morozevich.

Kramnik's superior performance in the Blindfold competition was the basis of his success.

His score of 9 out of 11 was the second highest in the history of the tournament, half a point short of the record that Morozevich set last year.

The Rapid competition was an easy prey for Anand.

The Indian grandmaster finished with 8. 5 points from 11 games, two points ahead of a group of four players: Carlsen, Ivanchuk, Kramnik and Leko.

In the longest game of the Blindfold session, Levon Aronian defeated Vasily Ivanchuk.

In a Catalan Opening the Armenian grandmaster got pleasant play. Aronian won after 67 moves and that ruined Ivanchuk's chances of finishing second.

The Rapid game ended in a draw, but this time Aronian was lost and Ivanchuk allowed him to get away.

Results of Round 11: Blindfold: Leko drew with Radjabov; Carlsen drew with Van Wely; Svidler lost to Morozevich; Gelfand drew with Anand; Aronian beat Ivanchuk; Vallejo drew with Kramnik

Results of Round 11: Rapid: Radjabov lost to Leko; Van Wely lost to Carlsen; Morozevich lost to Svidler; Anand drew with Gelfand; Ivanchuk drew with Aronian; Kramnik drew with Vallejo

Final Round 11 Standings: Blindfold: 1. Kramnik 9.0; 2. Morozevich and Gelfand 7.0; 4. Ivanchuk and Svidler 6.5; 6. Aronian 6.0; 7. Radjabov and Anand 5.0; 9. Carlsen and Leko 4.0; 11. Van Wely 3.5; 12. Vallejo Pons 2.5

Final Round 11 Standings: Rapid: 1. Anand 8.5; 2. Kramnik, Carlsen, Leko and Ivanchuk 6.5; 6. Aronian 6.0; 7. Svidler 5.5; 8. Gelfand and Morozevich 4.5; 10. Radjabov and Vallejo Pons 4.0; 12. Van Wely 3.0;

Final Round 11 Standings: Combined: 1. Kramnik 15.5; 2. Anand 13.5; 3. Ivanchuk 13.0; 4. Svidler and Aronian 12.0; 6. Morozevich and Gelfand 11.5; 8. Carlsen and Leko 10.5; 10. Radjabov 9.0; 11. Vallejo Pons and Van Wely 6.5