Anand draws with Andreikin, keeps lead
Khanty Mansiysk (Russia): Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand played out an easy draw as black against lowest ranked Dmitry Andreikin of Russia in the fifth round, but kept the lead at the Candidates chess tournament here. It turned out to be a no-hassle day for Anand as the Indian was seen pressing for an advantage towards the end of the game. The draw took Anand to 3.5 points out of a possible five and he keeps his half point lead with the end of the first half now approaching near. Anand chose the Berlin defense, an opening he has not been able to break himself as white for some time and Andreikin employed the closed set up that was on expected lines. The Russian got slightly favourable position in the middle game but was made to sweat hard for more by Anand who played at a good speed. It was a mild time pressure for Andreikin that led him in to difficulties and Anand was fighting for an advantage towards the end of the first time control. The Russian, however, got his act together just in time to find the path to equality after trading the queens. The peace was signed in 42 moved.
Qatar paid ex-FIFA VP millions: Report
london: Ex-FIFA vice-president Jack Warner and his family were paid USD 2 million by a former Qatari football official shortly after the Gulf country won the hosting rights of the 2022 World Cup, a report claimed today. According to British daily ‘The Telegraph’, Warner was personally paid USD 1.2 million from a company controlled by Mohamed Bin Hammam, former AFC President and an ex-member of Qatar’s Fifa committee. Payments totaling almost USD 750,000 were made to Warner’s sons and a further USD 400,000 was paid to one of his employees, the daily reported. It further said that a note from one of Warner’s companies, Jamad, to Bin Hammam’s firm, Kemco, requested USD 1.2 million in payment for work carried out between 2005 and 2010. The daily said a document in its possession, dated December 15, 2010 (two weeks after Qatar won the right to host the tournament), showed that the money was ‘payable to Jack Warner’.
India finish 6th in Wrestling World Cup
los Angeles: World Championships silver medallist Amit Kumar won four of his five bouts as India finished sixth in the FIlA Men’s Freestyle Wrestling World Cup here. India lost to Mongolia 3-5 in the 5th-6th position match after finishing third in their group. The Indians started the competition with one wrestler down as Krishan Kumar (125kg) did not get the visa clearance to the US. Against Mongolia, Amit (57kg) made a solid start as he beat Nomi Batbold levelling the handicap. But Bajrang (62kg) and Rajneesh (65kg) lost their respective contests. However, Amit Kumar Dhankar (70kg) and Parveen Rana (74kg) got India back into the game with clinical wins. However, Pawan Kumar, in the 86kg category, suffered his fifth straight defeat which was followed by the loss of junior world bronze medallist Satywart Kadian as India finished sixth in their maiden appearance at the competition.
SSCB beat COA 2-0 in men’s hockey nationals
lucknow: Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) beat Chandigarh Olympic Association (COA) 2-0 to register yet another victory in Pool A at the fourth Hockey India Senior Men National Championship 2014 (Division A) at Major Dhyan Chand Hockey Stadium, here on Tuesday. In another match, Punjab trounced Manipur 11-1 while defending Champions Haryana defeated Hockey Odisha 11-0 in Pool A.
Joshana loses in World Squash C’ship
Penang (Malaysia): World number 19 Indian Joshana Chinappa put up a fight but could not avoid defeat at the hands of fourth-ranked Alison Waters of England in the opening round of Women’s World Squash Championship. Chinappa took a game off from her much higher ranked opponent before going down 7-11, 7-11, 11-9, 2-11. India’s world number 11 Dipika Pallikal plays her opening match against qualifier lisa Aitken of England on Wednesday. PNS/Agencies