Magnus Carlsen Plays Volleyball, Badminton at Fisherman's Cove Nov 4-6; Heads to Hyatt Regency

World Chess Championship Challenger Magnus Carlsen, who checked into Taj-Fisherman's Cove beach resort here on November 4, spent most of his time by the pool side and played tennis and badminton, said a resort official Wednesday.

"He was at our property Nov 4-6. Carlsen spent most of his time relaxing by the poolside, enjoying a game of volleyball on the beach as well as tennis and badminton," the hotel official told IANS preferring anonymity.

The official added that Carlsen prefers his food to be medium spicy.

"He particularly relished spaghetti aglio olio with bacon, whole wheat croissants and cheese omelette with green chillies, while indulging in fresh mango juice during his stay," the official said.

Carlsen was served specially curated meals from the all-day diner Seagull and the Mediterranean specialty cuisine restaurant - Upper Deck, the official added.

The official said three premium indulgence sea view cottages and one superior charm room were booked by Carlsen and his eight-member team that included family personal chef and security personnel.

Carlsen is challenging the reigning world chess champion Viswanathan Anand. The first match is slated Nov 9 here. -- IANS

* Taj Vivanta's Fisherman's Cove - Chennai

The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) and its subsidiaries are collectively known as Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces and is recognised as one of Asia's largest and finest hotel company. Incorporated by the founder of the Tata Group, Mr. Jamsetji N. Tata, the company opened its first property, The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Bombay in 1903. The Taj, a symbol of Indian hospitality, completed its centenary year in 2003. Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces comprises 93 hotels in 55 locations across India with an additional 16 international hotels in the Maldives, Malaysia, Australia, UK, USA, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Africa and the Middle East.

- Vivanta by Taj - Fisherman's Cove, Chennai, built on the ramparts of an old Dutch fort, is now riding on a fresh new wave. Yet it remains the charming beach resort that's almost one with the Bay of Bengal. Where fun lovers return for good times. There's a nice new buzz however. In the renewed cottages and villas, the nouvelle restaurants, the high energy bar, and the spa where you'll go Ah! The Chef remains as eager to wow you with specially designed meals. Try mixing biz with fun and see how well wired the resort is.

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Magnus Carlsen will Spend World Chess Championship Rest Days at Luxurious Spa Resort

In an exclusive story, NRK Sports has quoted World Chess Championship Challenger's manager Espen Agdestein on where Magnus Carlsen would spend the rest days during the World Title Match. However, Agdestein has not revealed the secret location the chess prodigy is training at present. 

The World Chess Championship schedule includes a rest day after every two games. The main match takes place at the Hyatt Regency in Chennai. On the rest days, to take a break, Magnus Carlsen will commute to a spa resort a short distance away where he would be able to swim, play beach volleyball and tennis or just relax. There are two luxury hotels near Chennai. Meanwhile, even as Carlsen trains at a secret location, on being prodded by NRK Sport whether Carlsen would stay at the Fisherman's Cove on the rest days during the World Chess Championship, Agdestein said the location is a secret. 

During the World Chess Championship stay, Agdestein believes it is crucial that Carlsen has a place to go to escape the chaos surrounding the World Chess Championship in India. "To stay in a place for three and a half weeks is a long time, although it is a very nice place. Playing venue is also in the same place, and there is some limited hiking and sports around the hotel. It was one of the things we found on the inspection tour," said Agdestein.

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World Chess Championship Game 5: Carlsen Tortures Anand to Win Rook Ending, Takes Lead 3 -2

Chennai World Chess Championship 2013 Game 5 goes down in history as the first game won by Magnus Carlsen at the event versus Viswanathan Anand: What was it? The overnight stay at Fisherman's Cove, the Pyjama Girls' effect, sister Ellen's intuitive tweets of a victory for Magnus Carlsen, more supporters at the venue, or just pure chess? Possibly all combined.

This one's going to be one for both history and chess classrooms: World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand lost to World No.1 Magnus Carlsen after 58 moves (five and a half hours) in a Rook ending that really wasn't losing until the very end. Finally, Anand blinked on Friday. All earlier four games at the World Chess Championship Match have been drawn so far. 



The Challenger, for the first time in the match, played 1.c4 instead of 1.Nf3 which he had tried so far with White. Not opting for the main variations, the game steered from Semi-Slav to Noteboom to Marshall Attack and a Nimzo-Indian pawn structure with the rare 6.Nc3. Carlsen also sprung a surprise with 10.Qd3. Eventually, the pair of central pawns were exchanged and white dark-squared bishop had better scope.

Black ‘won’ the bishops pair and isolated one of the opponent’s pawns, but white completed the development and was ready for action. One careless move by black – 13…Bc7 – allowed Carlsen to perform convenient exchanges and transform the structure to his advantage.

Both players had pawn weaknesses but white pieces enjoyed greater activity. White was slightly better without any risks. Anand’s bishop was passive but it successfully protected the entry points on the 7th rank. Black also activated the rook along the fifth rank though it seemed to get blocked there. Both of Black's rooks remained disconnected for ages. 

Game 5 at Chennai World Chess Championship 2013: Magnus Carlsen - Viswanathan Anand 1-0 Photos Official website. 

White couldn’t break in and black pieces gradually gained activity. However, Anand still had to find the best moves just to stay in the game. He did so for some time until a careless check 45…Rc1+ cost him the a-pawn. In the resulting rook endgame with ‘a’ and ‘h’ pawns, white pieces were ideally placed to force the quick advance of the passed pawn on the a-file. Anand resigned after Carlsen got the second passed pawn on the h-file rolling.

In the post-match press conference, Carlsen said the first to win a game does not mean he has won the match. There are still seven games to go. The sixth game, in which Anand has White, will be played on Saturday. Here is a summary of all live streams that you can use for viewing Game 6 live. -- Rajat Khanna (inputs via official website)

Game 5 Moves Carlsen - Anand 1-0

Chennai World Chess Championship 2013

[Event "FWCM 2013"]

[Site "Chennai"]

[Date "2013.11.15"]

[Round "5"]

[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]

[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]

[Result "1-0"]

[ECO "D31"]

[WhiteElo "2870"]

[BlackElo "2775"]

[PlyCount "115"]

[EventDate "2013.15.1"]

[EventCountry "IND"]

[TimeControl "40/7200:20/3600:900+30"]

1. c4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 c6 4. e4 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Bb4+ 6. Nc3 c5 7. a3 Ba5 8. Nf3 Nf6 9. Be3 Nc6 10. Qd3 cxd4 11. Nxd4 Ng4 12. O-O-O Nxe3 13. fxe3 Bc7 14. Nxc6 bxc6 15. Qxd8+ Bxd8 16. Be2 Ke7 17. Bf3 Bd7 18. Ne4 Bb6 19. c5 f5 20. cxb6 fxe4 21. b7 Rab8 22. Bxe4 Rxb7 23. Rhf1 Rb5 24. Rf4 g5 25. Rf3 h5 26. Rdf1 Be8 27. Bc2 Rc5 28. Rf6 h4 29. e4 a5 30. Kd2 Rb5 31. b3 Bh5 32. Kc3 Rc5+ 33. Kb2 Rd8 34. R1f2 Rd4 35. Rh6 Bd1 36. Bb1 Rb5 37. Kc3 c5 38. Rb2 e5 39. Rg6 a4 40. Rxg5 Rxb3+ 41. Rxb3 Bxb3 42. Rxe5+ Kd6 43. Rh5 Rd1 44. e5+ Kd5 45. Bh7 Rc1+ 46. Kb2 Rg1 47. Bg8+ Kc6 48. Rh6+ Kd7 49. Bxb3 axb3 50. Kxb3 Rxg2 51. Rxh4 Ke6 52. a4 Kxe5 53. a5 Kd6 54. Rh7 Kd5 55. a6 c4+ 56. Kc3 Ra2 57. a7 Kc5 58. h4 1-0

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Chennai World Chess Championship 2013 vs Anand: Will Garry Kasparov help Magnus Carlsen?

The 13th World Chess Champion, Garry Kasparov (50), is reaching Chennai, the venue of the Anand - Carlsen World Chess Champion, on Monday. Kasparov has already tweeted his schedule. The big question everyone wants to know is: Will Garry Kasparov help Magnus Carlsen?

The legendary Russian chess player has already declared his support for the young prodigy from Norway. Kasparov tutored Carlsen for a brief period earlier in the latter's career.

Garry Kasparov and Magnus Carlsen in 2009. Photo (c) Chessbase

VG Nett - the online edition of Norway's most-read tabloid newspaper - quotes Magnus Carlsen's manager, Espen Agdestein as saying the Russian chess legend might have some role to play in the World Chess Championship. 

Agdestein was quoted as saying, "There is a possibility. We have been in contact, but I cannot say specifically whether there will be a co-operation or not." 

Agdestein said Kasparov has vast experience in World Chess Championships and his experience is valuable, so it would be silly not to take advantage of it. 

VG Nett continues with fantastic coverage of the Anand - Carlsen World Chess Championship and it's a pity we didn't enlist for Norwegian classes a few months back.  

Meanwhile, Magnus Carlsen said at the post-game press conference, after Game 2 on Sunday, he would like to relax on the first rest day of the World Championship. News reports had said Magnus Carlsen would be spending World Championship rest days at Fisherman's Cove - a resort about an hour's drive from Chennai. 

However, VG Nett stated on Sunday, Magnus Carlsen would stay on at the Hyatt Regency for the first rest day of the Chennai World Chess Championship. 

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