- The Washington Times - Monday, April 1, 2013

Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen of Norway qualified for a match for the world chess championship Monday, narrowly winning the candidates tournament featuring eight of the world’s best players in London. The 22-year-old chess superstar, the highest-rated player in the world, will take on reigning champ Viswanathan Anand of India in a one-on-one match later this year.

Mr. Anand, 43, has held the undisputed title since 2007.

Mr. Carlsen, long tapped as a future world champion, nearly threw away his chance at the title match, losing two of his final three games in London with the qualifying bid on the line. But his main rival, former Russian world champion Vladimir Kramnik, also lost his final-round game Monday to a tournament also-ran, allowing Mr. Carlsen to squeak through.

Mr. Carlsen would be the first Norwegian to hold the title and the first player from the West to be world chess champion since American Bobby Fischer relinquished the title in 1975.

• David R. Sands can be reached at dsands@washingtontimes.com.

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