'The Lighting Kid' Vishy Anand dominates 13th Quenza Blitz Open 2024 with a 3123 performance
GM Vishy Anand scored a perfect 9/9 to win 13th Quenza Blitz Rating Open 2024. He finished a staggering 1.5 points ahead of the field. GM Maxime Lagarde (FRA) and GM Sergey Fedorchuk (UKR) scored 7.5/9 each. They secured second and third place according to tie-breaks. Anand faced players of all ranges, from 11-year-old kid to 68-year-old veteran. He also faced a top woman from Slovania. Anand's fastest victory was a 16-move miniature against the eventual runner-up, Lagarde in Round 7. In the penultimate round, he registered a a 24-move win against GM Laurent Fressinet (FRA). Total prize fund of the tournament was €20000. The top three prizes were €3000, €2000 and €1500 along with a trophy each. A week after winning 37th Leon Masters, the maestro delivered a stellar performance in Corsica, France with a 3123 performance. Photo: Ligue Corse d'Echecs
After Spain, 'The Tiger' roars in France
The five-time Classical and two-time World Rapid champion, Vishy Anand is certainly in a great shape. This was an Open event with zero restrictions, something generally top players do not want to play. Anand is obviously in a different league than the rest. After winning a rapid event last week in Leon, Spain, 'The Lightning Kid' once again reminded everyone, why he earned that moniker when he was a kid.
An interview with Vishy Anand days before the tournament
In the sixth round, Vishy Anand (2722) made a short work of the eventual runner-up, Maxime Lagarde (FRA, 2569) in just 16 moves.
Anand continued his momentum and defeated GM Laurent Fressinet (FRA, 2600) in 24 moves after the latter made a tactical mistake.
The eighth round was the longest for the maestro. It was against the youngest GM of France - Marc` Andria Maurizzi (2443). It lasted 78 moves and over 13.5 minutes.
Vishy Anand comfortably defeated Algeria no.1 GM Bilel Bellahcene (2577) in the final round to finish 1.5 points ahead of the rest, even though a draw would have made him a clear champion.
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Vishy Anand expressed his joy after winning the tournament in a tweet
Replay all available games
A total of 156 players including 12 GMs, 4 IMs, a WGM and 2 WIMs took part from 20 countries across the world in this one-day nine-round Swiss League Rating Open. The tournament was organized by Ligue Corse des Echecs at Place de l'Eglise in Quenza, Corsica, France on 7th July. The time control of the event was 5 minutes + 3 seconds increment.
Final standings
| Pl | Nom | Blitz | Cat. | Fede | Ligue | Club | Pts | Tr. | Bu. | Perf | |
| 1 | g | ANAND Viswanathan | 2722 F | SepM |  | PAC | Cannes Echecs | 9 | 45½ | 54 | 3123 |
| 2 | g | LAGARDE Maxime | 2569 F | SenM |  | CVL | C'Chartres Echecs | 7½ | 48 | 60 | 2654 |
| 3 | g | FEDORCHUK Sergey A. | 2538 F | SenM |  | ARA | Lyon Olympique Echecs | 7½ | 44½ | 55 | 2553 |
| 4 | g | FRESSINET Laurent | 2600 F | SenM | | EST | Bischwiller | 7 | 47 | 56½ | 2570 |
| 5 | g | MAURIZZI Marc Andria | 2443 F | CadM | | CVL | C'Chartres Echecs | 7 | 46½ | 55 | 2468 |
| 6 | m | TRAVADON Loic | 2439 F | SenM | | IDF | Cergy Pontoise Echecs | 7 | 45½ | 56 | 2380 |
| 7 | g | MAZE Sebastien | 2465 F | SenM | | EST | Bischwiller | 7 | 44 | 54 | 2390 |
| 8 | f | TOMASI Albert | 2226 F | SenM | | IDF | U.S.Villejuif Echecs | 7 | 42 | 51 | 2193 |
| 9 | g | BELLAHCENE Bilel | 2577 F | SenM |  | EST | Bischwiller | 6½ | 49½ | 58 | 2551 |
| 10 | g | BATSIASHVILI Nino | 2220 F | SenF |  | IDF | La Tour de Juvisy | 6½ | 44 | 53 | 2322 |
