Defending champion Viswanathan Anand beat Bulgaria`s Veselin Topalov in the 12th and final game to win the World chess title for the fourth time at Sofia today. Anand won games 2, 4 and 12. Topalov won games 1 and 8. Games 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11 were drawn.

Anand lost game one and bounced back to win the next game and the fourth game to take a 2.5-1.5 lead. After eight games, Topalov managed to level scores. After Anand`s missed chances in game nine, draws came and in Topalov`s white game, Anand won with the black pieces for the fourth world chess title.

Anand first won the crown in 2000 at Tehran under knock out format, then won it back in 2007 in Mexico in tournament format. In 2008, he defeated Kramnik in match format and now at Sofia he beat Topalov 6.5-5.5 to retain his title in the match format.

It was a big gain for Anand, as he pocketed the top prize of  1,200,000 Euros which is about Rs 7 crores. Topalov received 800,000 Euros. Besides keeping the title, Anand also gained Elo rating from this match which will take him well over the 2800 mark once again.

Anand, 40, proved that experience matters when the scores between two players are level or close. Topalov, 35, had a plus one head-to-head score but that was from 44 encounters. Anand has closed that deficit now with this victory.