Date:16/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/16/stories/2008031659941900.htm

Sport - Chess

Anand, Kramnik renew rivalry

NEW DELHI: Joint World No. 1 and six-time winner Vladimir Kramnik and five-time champion Viswanathan Anand renew their rivalry in the Amber rapid and blindfold chess tournament that opens in Nice, in southern France, on Saturday.

With Anand and Kramnik due to cross swords in their World championship match in October, all games between them this year are sure to be followed with added interest. The average rating of the field is a whopping 2752.

The players: (with world ranking and rating): 1. Vladimir Kramnik (Rus, 2799) and Viswanathan Anand (2799), 3. Veselin Topalov (Bul, 2780), 4. Alexander Morozevich (Rus, 2765), 6. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Aze, 2760), 8. Peter Leko (Hun, 2753), 9. Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukr, 2751), 10. Levon Aronian (Arm, 2739), 11. Boris Gelfand (Isr, 2739), 13. Magnus Carlsen (Nor, 2733), 14. Sergey Karjakin (Ukr, 2732), 35. Loek van Wely (Ned, 2681).