MOSCOW: Norwegian prodigy Magnus Carlsen retained his title as World Chess Champion on Sunday, defeating rival Viswanathan Anand for the second year in a row.
The 23-year-old world No. 1 beat India's Anand, title-holder of the championship from 2007 to 2013 when he was dethroned by Carlsen, in two of 11 games of the competition, with the others ending in draws.
"I am very happy," Carlsen was quoted as saying by Russian press agency TASS. "It was a very difficult match, much more difficult than last year."
"Anand is a very strong chess player, but he had practically no chance of winning."
Carlsen had been playing since Nov. 8 against Anand, who is nearly 20 years his senior, in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi.
The victory, secured with a difference of just two points, will mean one million euros ($1.2 million) in prize money for Carlsen just a week before his 24th birthday.
"Overall, throughout the match, Carlsen played better than I did," Anand was quoted as saying by TASS.
"I tried, but the risk didn't work out. Carlsen didn't make a mistake. I had nothing left to do but take risks."
Carlsen turned grandmaster at 13 and in 2010, aged only 19, became the youngest player in history to be ranked world No. 1. He won the Candidates Tournament in 2013 to earn the right to challenge Anand.
His breakthrough in chess came in 2004, when as a 13-year-old he defeated Russian former world champion Anatoly Karpov, forced Russian legend Garry Kasparov to a draw, and became a grandmaster.
Before Carlsen captured the championship crown in 2013, the last Westerner to hold the title was American legend Bobby Fischer who relinquished it in 1975.
Carlsen missed by a few weeks becoming the youngest world champion, a record set by his one-time coach Kasparov in 1985.
Introduced to chess by his father, Carlsen showed signs of genius as a toddler.
At the age of two, Carlsen knew by heart all the major car brands and later memorised the long list of Norway's municipalities, with their flags and administrative centres.
Sibling rivalry with one of his older sisters sparked his interest in chess, which soon led to his first competition at the age of eight.
Carlsen has been hailed by Kasparov as a Harry Potter-type "super-talent".
A fashion model in his spare time, he made it to the Time magazine list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2013.
Anand, who remains one of the most popular sports figures in cricket-mad India, and his opponent enjoyed a remarkably similar rise in their careers since they were talented teenagers.
Anand, 44, became an international master at 15, was crowned Indian champion at 16, won the world junior title at 17 and became the country's first grandmaster at 18.
His longevity and perseverance — he won his first world title in 2000 — has often been compared with that of cricket superstar Sachin Tendulkar, the world's batting record-holder.
The soft-spoken family man, who lives in Spain with wife Aruna and three-year-old son Akhil, is far removed from his temperamental predecessors like Bobby Fischer, Boris Spassky, Anatoly Karpov and Kasparov.
Norwegian prodigy Carlsen retains World Chess championship
Norwegian prodigy Carlsen retains World Chess championship
Gabbia ends AC Milan’s derby pain with late winner against Inter
- Milan’s win snapped Inter’s run of consecutive derby victories at six and stopped their rivals from taking top spot in Serie A on goal difference ahead of surprise early league leaders Torino
- Goals from Artem Dovbyk, Paulo Dybala and Tommaso Baldanzi gave Roma their first win of the season against Udinese
MILAN: Matteo Gabbia fired AC Milan to a stunning late derby win over Inter Milan on Sunday with a bullet header which earned his team a 2-1 win and local bragging rights, while Roma thumped Udinese 3-0 as fans protested the shock sacking of Daniele De Rossi.
Defender Gabbia rose highest to thump home Tijjani Reijnders’ free-kick in the 89th minute and give Milan a Serie A win which pulls them out of a miserable early season slump.
Paulo Fonseca’s side join Inter on eight points in seventh place thanks to Gabbia’s late winner, which came after Federico Dimarco had levelled Christian Pulisic’s brilliant 10th-minute individual effort just before the half-hour mark.
“They played with a lot of courage today and I think we deserved to win, I can’t remember another team that have created so many problems for Inter like we did today,” said Fonseca to DAZN.
Milan’s win snapped Inter’s run of consecutive derby victories at six and stopped their rivals from taking top spot in Serie A on goal difference ahead of surprise early league leaders Torino.
They will have renewed belief after a difficult start to the campaign, with the pressure relieved on new coach Fonseca whose team were worthy winners.
“They were the better team tonight, we didn’t play as a team and that’s not something you can usually say about us,” said Inzaghi.
Milan were booed off the field after being thumped by Liverpool on Tuesday but fans were fully back on their side after a strong display as the nominal away side at a pulsating San Siro.
They deserved to win after creating the best chances to win the match in the second half and were nearly denied the three points by a fine performance from Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer.
The Swiss pulled off a sensational save to stop Rafael Leao heading Milan ahead seconds after the restart before diving low to keep out Reijnders 20 minutes later.
Leao again cursed his luck in the 75th minute when at the end of a rapid counter-attack Sommer kept out his close range finish, and seconds later Tammy Abraham flashed a great chance just wide.
But Gabbia sparked a wild party among the Milan fans who could finally celebrate ending their derby hoodoo in the most dramatic fashion.
“It was pretty difficult when things weren’t going well, but this win will really help push us forward,” said Milan youth product Gabbia to DAZN.
“There are always tough moments in life, all we can do is not have regrets at the final whistle and that’s what happened today.”
Goals from Artem Dovbyk, Paulo Dybala and Tommaso Baldanzi gave Roma their first win of the season against Udinese who had been surprise leaders before this weekend but drop down to third, a point behind Torino.
But the match was a sideshow due to the vociferous protests at De Rossi’s dismissal on Wednesday which will continue unless new coach Ivan Juric can ensure continue with the sort of display which moved Roma up to 10th on six points.
“The boys were very sad about Daniele being fired, they were very honest about it and I appreciated that,” said Juric after the match.
Supporters hurled abuse at the team from the stands while the entire Curva Sud section of the Olimpico, where the hardcore supporters stand, was empty for the first half an hour of the match.
By the time those fans started pouring into the stadium Roma were ahead thanks to Dovbyk’s goal, but that didn’t stop loud chants of De Rossi’s name ringing around the stadium.
The anger at De Rossi being fired has been such that CEO Lina Souloukou, who resigned on Saturday morning, had been placed under police protection after online threats made against her and family.
Earlier, Albert Gudmundsson netted a brace of penalties on his Fiorentina debut to fire his new team to their first win of the campaign, 2-1 against Lazio.
Marseille stun Lyon with 95th-minute winner after early red card
- The match lived up to its feisty billing as one of France’s most intense rivalries with Marseille’s Leonardo Balerdi picking up a yellow card inside 30 seconds
- Monaco saw off a battling Le Havre 3-1 to preserve their unbeaten record
LYON: Marseille came from behind to beat Lyon 3-2 away from home after being reduced to 10 men early in the match on Sunday courtesy of a 95th-minute winner by Jonathan Rowe.
The result sent Roberto De Zerbi’s resurgent side second in Ligue 1, level on 13 points with Paris Saint-Germain but with an inferior goal difference.
Ex-Marseille defender Duje Caleta-Car opened the scoring for Lyon in a chaotic ‘Olympico’ derby, marked by late goals and an early red card.
Pol Lirola levelled for Marseille, before Ulisses Garcia sent them ahead with under 10 minutes remaining.
Rayan Cherki looked to have claimed a point for Lyon in the third minute of added time only for Rowe to piledrive a winner for Marseille from the edge of the box two minutes later.
The match lived up to its feisty billing as one of France’s most intense rivalries with Marseille’s Leonardo Balerdi picking up a yellow card inside 30 seconds for a heavy challenge on Corentin Tolisso.
The Marseille captain then got his marching orders inside five minutes for a second bookable offense when he hauled down Alexandre Lacazette.
“He made a mistake and he knows it,” said De Zerbi. “But we dedicate this victory to him and he remains our captain.
“In this squad, when someone is in difficulty, we don’t abandon him.”
A man to the good, Lyon dominated but failed to translate this onto the scoresheet.
First-half controversy then continued when deep in added time, Lyon were awarded a penalty for handball after a lengthy VAR review.
Lacazette’s effort from 12 yards was repelled by Geronimo Rulli and the Lyon captain, under intense pressure from the following-in defense, could only blaze the rebound well over the crossbar.
Caleta-Car powered in a 53-minute header following excellent work by Clinton Mata to win the ball and put in a pinpoint cross on the right flank.
But Marseille, despite having subbed off attackers Amine Harit and Elye Wahi, hit back through substitute defender Lirola in the 69th minute when he calmly lifted a one-on-one finish over Lucas Perri.
The shock turnaround continued in the 82nd minute when another replacement defender in Garcia strode onto Lirola’s cross and bounced a first-time finish over the goalkeeper and into the far corner.
The drama was not finished, however, as Cherki bundled in a cross at the near post to seemingly ensure Pierre Sage’s side would share the spoils.
Rowe then stole the show for Marseille as he drove forward from the left wing, beat two defenders and thrashed the ball across Perri and inside the far post.
Monaco saw off a battling Le Havre 3-1 to preserve their unbeaten record.
The Principality side backed up their impressive midweek victory in the Champions League against Barcelona by winning their fourth game in five league outings this term.
Strikes in quick succession midway through the second half by Eliesse Ben Seghir and Folarin Balogun ensured Monaco claimed all three points, after Le Havre’s Daler Kuzyaev had canceled out Jordan Teze’s early opener.
“I’m very pleased with the win, even if it wasn’t the best game of the season,” said Monaco coach Adi Huetter.
Dutch right-back Teze gave the home side the lead inside 10 minutes, before Kuzyaev got the equalizer with an outside-of-the-foot finish that crept into the far corner.
Rested after his exploits midweek, rising star Ben Seghir restored Monaco’s lead with a moment of individual inspiration in the 66th minute.
Receiving the ball 25 yards from goal, he advanced on the packed defense and shaped the ball beyond the goalkeeper with his right foot from 25 yards.
Balogun wrapped up the points four minutes later when he swept home from George Ilenikhena’s pass.
Enugu loss ends Nigerian CAF Champions League challenge
- Enugu trailed 2-0 during the first half in Luanda against rivals playing 850 kilometers (530 miles) from their Dundo base because the ground there does not meet international standards
JOHANNESBURG: Enugu Rangers were eliminated from the CAF Champions League after losing 3-1 away to Angolan club Sagrada Esperanca on Sunday, leaving Nigeria with no representative in the group stage.
Rangers went out 3-2 on aggregate after building a one-goal lead in the first leg of the second round qualifier last weekend.
The Nigerians have competed in the Champions League four times and never made it to the mini-league phase, where prize money kicks in with $800,000 (715,000 euros) for qualifiers this season.
Enugu trailed 2-0 during the first half in Luanda against rivals playing 850 kilometers (530 miles) from their Dundo base because the ground there does not meet international standards.
Anayor Ogbonna then netted before half-time for Rangers, bringing the clubs level on aggregate at 2-2, but edging Enugu ahead on away goals.
Jaime Pimpao scored the only goal of the second half on 67 minutes to put Sagrada two goals ahead again in the second leg, and they retained that advantage to seal the fate of Enugu.
The other Nigerian qualifiers for the premier African club competition this season, Remo Stars, lost to Moroccan side FAR Rabat in the first round last month.
Sagrada reached the group stage once in three previous appearances and their qualification comes after the surprise failure of fellow Angolans Petro Luanda to be among the 16 survivors.
Petro were held 0-0 at home by Maniema Union from the Democratic Republic of Congo on Saturday and lost 2-1 on aggregate.
Malian club Djoliba created history after winning 1-0 away to Togolese outfit ASKO Kara in Lome and progressing 2-0 on aggregate.
At the 12th attempt, the Bamako team became the first club from the west African nation to reach the group phase of the Champions League.
Former champions Stade Abidjan of the Ivory Coast, back in the competition after a 54-year absence, FAR Rabat and Al Hilal of Sudan also qualified on Sunday.
Barca rout Villarreal but Ter Stegen hurt, Atletico draw at Rayo
- Flick gave Eric Garcia another start in defensive midfield despite his early red card against Monaco in the Champions League midweek defeat
BARCELONA: Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha struck twice each as La Liga leaders Barcelona romped to a 5-1 win at Villarreal on Sunday but were left fearing a “huge” knee injury to goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Atletico Madrid, fourth, were held to a 1-1 draw at city rivals Rayo Vallecano as Conor Gallagher netted his second goal for the Rojiblancos.
Barcelona’s sixth league triumph in six games was marred by Ter Stegen being taken off on a stretcher after falling awkwardly having collected a cross, with early reports suggesting he could miss the rest of the season.
“I think it will be a huge injury, when he laid down on the field... you can see it directly,” Barcelona coach Hansi Flick told DAZN.
Lewandowski netted Barcelona’s first two goals and later missed a penalty in a thoroughly entertaining battle on Spain’s east coast at Villarreal’s Estadio de la Ceramica.
Ayoze Perez pulled his team back into the game shortly before half-time and the previously unbeaten hosts had two goals disallowed, with Pablo Torre and Raphinha’s strikes cementing Barcelona’s victory.
After second-placed Real Madrid thrashed Espanyol 4-1 on Saturday the Catalans were able to restore a four-point lead on the champions.
“It’s very important for us that we played a game away from home, we scored five goals and in the end we have three points,” said Lewandowski.
“In the end it doesn’t matter how, as long as we win that’s perfect.”
Flick gave Eric Garcia another start in defensive midfield despite his early red card against Monaco in the Champions League midweek defeat.
The German coach also started reserve team players Gerard Martin and Sergi Dominguez, as well as playmaker Torre in place of the injured Dani Olmo.
Teenage star Lamine Yamal hit the post early on before Lewandowski slotted home in the 20th minute after Torre slipped him in.
Villarreal goalkeeper Diego Conde did well to keep out a bundled effort from the Polish striker but Lewandowski pounced after 35 minutes for his second.
Conde saved Garcia’s header well but the former Bayern Munich hitman converted the rebound with an acrobatic finish from close range.
It was his sixth La Liga goal of the season, taking him two clear of Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe in Spain’s golden boot race.
Villarreal were frequently threatening on the counter and Perez gave them a lifeline after the electric Nicolas Pepe set him up.
Ter Stegen thwarted Pepe with a sensational save one-on-one before half-time but the German Barca captain was soon stricken as he fell badly after catching a corner before the break and was replaced by Inaki Pena.
Pepe finished brilliantly early in the second half but his effort was disallowed for a marginal offside call, and Yeremy Pino hit the bar with a header as Marcelino Garcia Toral’s side drove Barcelona back.
Torre extended Barca’s lead with a deflected strike from the edge of the box, a killer blow given Villarreal’s momentum.
Lewandowski hit the post from the spot after Eric Bailly scythed down Yamal and Villarreal’s Thierno Barry had a goal ruled out for offside.
Raphinha ended any hopes of a home comeback, first with a deflected shot and then finishing after a superb Yamal pass left him with just Conde to beat.
“(Ter Stegen) is a very special and important person in the dressing room, this victory is 100 percent for him,” Raphinha told DAZN.
Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois wrote Ter Stegen a message on social media platform X.
“It hurt me a lot to see you leave the pitch like that,” wrote the Belgian stopper.
“I hope you can recover soon and we see you again in goal.”
In a Madrid derby clash Diego Simeone’s unbeaten Atletico could not find a way past Rayo Vallecano.
Rayo’s Isi Palazon slammed home from close range after 35 minutes and the goal was eventually given after initially being ruled offside.
However Gallagher finished neatly from the edge of the box early in the second half when Alexander Sorloth fed the England international.
“(At half-time Simeone) told us we all had to run, these days anyone who is not running here cannot play,” Atletico captain Koke told Movistar.
“We had chances to get the winner but it wasn’t to be.”
Athletic Bilbao overtook Atletico to move into third with a 3-1 win against Celta Vigo.
Chess-Governing body FIDE upholds ban on Russian, Belarusian players
Chess governing body FIDE’s general assembly on Sunday upheld a ban on Russian and Belarusian players imposed after Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022, while backing a move to consider easing restrictions on disabled and junior players.
The Ukrainian government, the US State Department and players including former world champion Magnus Carlsen and members of the Ukraine Olympic team had urged chess federations to reject an initial motion by Kyrgyzstan to fully reinstate the two nations.
In the end, delegates from 66 countries supported a last-minute proposal by the FIDE Council to consult the International Olympic Committee (IOC) about letting some players and teams from Russia and Belarus, such as those with disabilities or children aged under 12, return to international events.
“We believe this approach upholds FIDE’s commitment to inclusivity while respecting the international framework,” the organization’s deputy president and also a former world champion Viswanathan Anand told the assembly before the ballot.
Forty-one delegates voted not to readmit the players, 21 countries favored lifting the ban entirely and 27 abstained or were absent.
The FIDE Council is an oversight body chaired by FIDE president and former Russian deputy prime minister Arkady Dvorkovich, who has strived to avoid criticism in both Russia and the West.
Russian chess federation president Andrey Filatov told local media on Sunday that Dvorkovich was buying time for fear of sanctions from Ukraine and the United States.
In line with the IOC’s stance on the two countries, Russian and Belarusian players including 2021 and 2023 world championship runner-up Ian Nepomniachtchi are allowed to participate in international events under a neutral flag.
Sunday’s vote avoided setting a dangerous precedent by breaking with the IOC, but FIDE should act more energetically toward Russia and Belarus, Pieter Heine Nielsen, Carlsen’s former coach and a frequent critic of FIDE, told Reuters.
“We’re talking within the last two years, more than a thousand chess events in occupied Ukraine by Russia ... There was no words discussed about how do we force Russia to stop these events,” Nielsen said.
The FIDE General Assembly was held over the weekend in Budapest alongside the 45th Chess Olympiad, the world’s largest chess team event with almost 2,000 participants.
World championship challenger Gukesh Dommaraju and his teammates from India won gold in both the open and women’s sections of the event.
