Anand to meet Kramnik

With seven rounds still to go, Anand, who drew with Briton Michael Adams in his second game and has only half point so far, has enough chances of getting among the leaders. And the rest he got yesterday will do him a world of good.

Anand, who figured in each of the four big tournaments so far in 1999 and is expected to play more as the year goes by, needs to pace himself well in order to repeat last season’s success. The Indian, who won seven titles and topped it by bagging the coveted chess Oscar, has struggled to winhis first title this season.

Another incentive for him will be the Fide World Championship which will be held in July-August in Las Vegas and Anand needs to be in top position to win that one final accolade which he has missed twice so far.

Kramnik, who will take white against Anand, is looking solid and is playing carefully, drawing difficult games and picking useful points off weaker opponents and will be a tough opponent.

Kramnik, who has also figured in the four big tournaments of the year so far, is not straining despite playing as much as Anand.

The Dos Hermanas event, which was revived after a year’s gap — Anand won it in 1997 — has thus far gone on expected lines except Anand’s loss to Polgar.

That loss may not mean much if Anand gets back to winning ways soon, but he will certainly be thinking about it as he has not lost often to Polgar, who is playing in a category-19 tournament after a year’s gap.

The tournament was robbed of some further interest with the pulling out of Russianyoungster Alexander Morozevich, who was due to make his debut at the super GM level. Most others have been seen often on the circuit, and a new face and talent would have generated lot of interest.

The youngster was replaced by the consistent Boris Gelfand, a former winner here, after Morozevich fell ill and returned home on the eve of the tournament.

Standings

Michael Adams (1.5); V Korchnoi (one point from one game), Vladimir Kramnik, Judit Polgar, Vasselin Topalov, Anatoly Karpov, M Illescas (all one point from two games); Boris Gelfand (0.5 off one game); Viswanathan Anand, Peter Svidler (both 0.5 points).