Wawrinka to take part in Chennai Open
Chennai: World number eight Stanislas Wawrinka confirmed, on Monday, his participation in the 19th edition of the Chennai Open, India’s only ATP World Tour tennis event, which will start on December 30. Last year, Wawrinka had partnered Frenchman Benoit Paire to lift the doubles title. The Olympic doubles gold medallist will be participating in the tournament for the sixth successive year and will look to win title here second time, having triumphed here in 2011. The 28-year-old has had a terrific 2013 as he qualified for the season-ending ATP World Tour, where he reached semifinals and lost to eventual champion Novak Djokovic. Wawrinka compiled a career-best 51-23 match record in the season and had nine wins against top 10 players. Janko Tipsarevic was the 2013 singles champion. (PTI)
Anand draws 7th game; Carlsen holds lead
Chennai: Defending champion Viswanathan Anand could not break through the defences of challenger Magnus Carlsen and had to be content with a draw in the seventh game of the World Chess Championship here on Monday. It turned out to be another tame affair after two back-to-back losses for Anand as Carlsen gave nothing away in yet another closed Berlin defence as black, while the Indian went for an early deviation from previous games. With just five games to go in the 12-game match, Carlsen retains his two point lead with the scoreline now reading 4.5-2.5 in favour of the Norwegian. (PTI)
Kohli, de Villiers in battle for top spot
Dubai: The fight for the No. 1 batting position between India’s Virat Kohli and South Africa captain AB de Villiers in the ICC ODI batsmen rankings could get exciting in the coming weeks. With only eight rating points separating No.1 Kohli from de Villiers, the forthcoming series offers both of them an opportunity to either retain or reclaim the top position. While India play the West Indies in a three-match series from November 21, South Africa play host to Pakistan in a three-match series from November 24. The series in India finishes on November 27 and South Africa on November 30. (IANS)