Anand holds the aces

By Our Chess Correspondent

CHENNAI, DEC. 23. The fundamental difference between the two finalists is that the Indian genius, Viswanathan Anand, is better prepared, fresher and is obviously playing at a very high 2800 plus rating level.

Having missed two opportunities to win the world title in 1995 and 1998, Anand appears to have an iron grip over the match and is unlikely to miss the third one where he is sitting pretty.

Challengers who failed in the last three decades are Viktor Korchnoi, twice and Vladimir Akopian, Gata Kamsky, Nigel Short and Jan Timman once each. None of them were good enough to get a third strike.

Anand is well placed with a 2.5-0.5 lead from the three games, and in the remaining three games he needs a victory or two draws to take the world title. Both routes are possible although the draw route may be preferred at this stage. The previous world title Anand won was in 1987 when he won the world junior in the Philippines.

Anand's freshness comes from skipping the tiring Chess Olympiad, which Shirov went through. On the playing side, Anand has not missed any chance, in fact, he created one in game two. Anand's lead is significant since he has two white games from the three left and appears to be in an unassailable position in the duel. Shirov has his share of problems of which strategy to adopt at this stage. If he has given up hope, just as Kasparov did against Kramnik in London, a little prematurely, draws are an alternative so as not to lose Elo rating. Attempting to risk and win with black in game four could also cost him the title and Elo rating.

Trying to draw and break Anand's new found pattern of winning with black will be a wise choice. Then, he can bank on his white in game five and hope for the best to turn the match around.

The topic of discussion in Anand's camp would be whether to go for a win or play it safe and preserve his other precious ideas for the upcoming Corus tournament from January 12 in Wijk aan Zee. The prediction is for lines with less risk.

Shirov should be coming with less hope. Obviously he needs to look at history where Anand had been nervous when victory was within grasp in the matches which he lost to Gata Kamsky in 1994 and Anatoly Karpov in 1998. The Kamsky match at Sanghinagar was a catastrophe for Anand, for he blew a two-point lead to allow the opponent to tie and win the tie-break.

Anand has a firm grip on his nerves today with plenty of experience from knockout competitions and physical exercise especially before top flight competitions. Before the Groningen World Championship of 1997 he stealthily ran a preparatory campaign doing plenty of cycling in the Netherlands. Cycling, walking and a little bit of weights forms his routine this time in Spain. He sees as little chess as possible on the eve of his games but revises for satisfaction.

His strategy partner GM Elizbar Ubilava talks strategy and knows exactly the lines where Anand has problems. He works on them at every moment whether he is walking or travelling and checks his discoveries before uncorking the idea on the drawing board.

Expectations have run very high in the chess fraternity in anticipation of an Anand victory. It has not been of this magnitude before. ``I don't expect him to miss out this chance. He may win on Sunday itself,'' said International Arbiter V. Kameswaran. India's first International Master Manuel Aaron said he expected Shirov to try in game four but didn't expect any change in the match course. The chess organisers in Chennai are talking beyond a victory, ``what reception do we give him on arrival.''

Anand's parents are watching the games on the FIDE website from their home in Chennai. ``It was very enjoyable, I followed the entire game,'' said Mrs Sushila Viswanathan, Anand's mother who taught him the moves when he was six. She was speaking about game three on Friday night.

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