Draws might dominate opening round

By Arvind Aaron

DORTMUND, JULY 11. World chess champion Viswanathan Anand, who will be looking forward to improve his tied first place of last year in the 29th Sparkassen chess meeting, said the one week rest he had was enough to forget the Vladimir Kramnik match at Mainz.

Talking to the press, the 31-year old champion sporting his NIIT sponsor T-shirt said ``we are not starting our preparation from scratch, so that way one week is enough.''

His rival, the Braingames World chess champion Vladimir Kramnik, who won five times and is looking for his sixth title, said time for preparation, either two months or two days is never enough. ``I prepared something for one week, but it may not be enough,'' said Kramnik.

Britain's best Michael Adams broke off from the line and said he had time enough to prepare prior to coming to Germany this summer. ``Let's see the results,'' Adams said with some hope.

Peter Leko, the 1999 winner said with these big guys in the starting list, preparation will be important and he did not have enough time as he would have liked to.

Both Alexaner Morozevich and Veselin Topalov said they did not have enough time to prepare but the latter added, ``I am not complaining.''

In the meet the press, Mr Alfred Schlya, President of the German Chess Federation congratulated the organisers for putting up this show and reaching category 21, the highest ever reached for classical chess.

Organiser and press officer Mr Carsten Hensel said ``we are proud to have two world champions in our tournament,'' and added, ``it is not easy to have them like before.''

Kramnik who is looking for his sixth victory is the defending champion. ``The tournament is stronger every year. It is more and more difficult to win, but I have hopes,'' said Kramnik.

Asked which of the two he would enjoy winning the most, the sixth title here or the Fritz computer match at Bahrain in October, Kramnik said, ``one by one.'' He meant both. Fritz is an interesting challenge and very difficult.

The other five players were asked to predict the result of the Kramnik v Fritz match scheduled for this October. Anand said, ``I will put my money on Vladi.'' Others followed suit. Topalov said, ``it is good for our human confidence.''

Asked if they were getting greater public attention in Germany, Kramnik said the waiter in the Indian restaurant yesterday in Germany told him he recognised him. Then, later when he finished his meal, the waiter told him, ``I found who you are. You played in the same tournament as Viswanathan Anand.''

Answering the same question, Anand said yes, outside our countries the recognition is ``little bit more.''

Talking about the German weather which is cloudy and not raining, Anand said it was ``perfect for walks.'' At the end of the press conference however there was heavy rain.

It is a strain for both Anand and Kramnik but the one week rest they said was enough. Anand said, ``this is what we have been doing for ten years.'' Kramnik said playing rapid chess first and classical chess is ideal but not vice versa.

The players may not be fully warmed up for this competition and with the heavyweight players taking the black side for the opening round, draws could be in dominance unless Leko is able to take on the Marshall attack from Adams the manner in which he tore it in 1999.

Topalov has brought his trainer IM Silvio Danailov while Anand has rested his trainer Elizbar Ubilava who has taken a vacation with his family. Adams is accompanied by Tara, his girlfriend since 1994.

Out of a total 30 games, it will be an achievement if more than 12 end decisive. Dortmund which saw a steep climb in the category numbers has now settled high at 21, the highest achieved in classical chess.

The players in Elo rating order as of July stand as follows: Kramnik (Russia) 2802, Anand (India) 2794, Morozevich (Russia) 2749, Adams (England) 2744, Leko (Hungary) 2730 and Topalov (Bulgaria) 2711.

Anand's rating doesn't include the six games he played and won in Merida, Mexico this May whereas Kramnik's rating is inclusive of the Astana Tournament in Kazakhstan which ended after the Anand event at Merida. The average rating is still 2755 for the tournament, a meet record.

The tournament is a 6-player double round robin tournament and it will conclude on July 22.

Pairings for Thursday's first round: P.Leko v M.Adams, A.Morozevich v V.Anand, V.Topalov v V.Kramnik.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Sport
Next     : Stewart cleared after thorough investigation