Anand's 2,844 rating performance at Linares coupled with other results like the joint first at Wijk aan Zee will fetch him precious points. It will need only a few more points for the Indian to touch 2,800. Kasparov has the record in rating with 2,825.

But more than the magical figure, Anand would be keen to set his sights on his next goal -- the Fide World championship -- and improve his play in general. Anand's Linares victory was well received the World over with the Indian finding himself on the cover of the British Chess Magazine and a caption `Vishy Anand: Best Player in the World ?'.

Noted chess critic Lubosh Kavalek did not have the doubts of BCM and stated `Vishy Anand is the best chess player in the World at the moment' in the WashingtonPost.

Aside from these statistical facts, a few subtle moves by the Indian have created an impact in chess circles. First, he coolly declined an invitation from the new World Chess Council formed by Linares organiser Luis Rentero and Kasparov along the lines of the defunct GMA and PCA, and then added a footnote to his decision that he is committed to his Fide assignments. ``My signature binds me, I am a man of my word,'' he said.

Anand's honourable decision has dealt a mortal blow to any claims of legitimacy by the WCC for its self-styled World championship. In one stroke, Anand has won the hearts of the chess public and indicated that the World championship is not a private affair to be taken for granted.

Analysts of chess politics view this situation as probably the end of individual players taking control of organisation of big events and a better future for the World Chess Federation (Fide).

The argument farouring Fide tightening its grip is that the WCC has no method while picking its dramatispersonae while its predecessors, the GMA and PCA, had some systematic procedures to select their Candidates.

A competition without Anatoly Karpov and Vishy Anand ? Alexie Shirov of Spain handpicked without any reason ? Vladimir Kramnik seeded into the Candidates final without playing a game ? Well, Luis Rentero, the self-styled organiser, might as well turn his World into an amusement park !

Kramnik's promotion to the top without playing a game might just be a rejoinder to his own decision of staying away from the Fide Knockout on the grounds that Karpov was seeded into the final.

The only reason for Kramnik to accept the new status could be that he would not be recognising this WCC farce as a World championship or else he should have objected to the unreasonable means of selection. Or, are we looking at a few selfish individuals jockeying for positions in the chess World ?

There is no denying that Kasparov is the No.1 player at the moment, considering his Elo rating and his impeccable match-record.For the past 14 years, he has been the strongest player in the World and he has won the strongest tournaments, with a few exceptions, during the period. He has defended his title every three years in a long match and always emerged victorious.

But one striking feature of all these matches was that whenever Kasparov played a title match, the challengers (Nigel Short in 1993 or Anand in 1995) had come through the qualifying cycle in a democratic way. So, the new organisation lacks the validity of the previous ones, which prompts analysts to wonder whether it is time they prefix World champion Garry Kasparov with an `ex'.

Alexie Shirov will be the player who would fit well into the scheme of Rentero. Shirov goes for blood in every game, which is exactly what Rentero wants everyone else to do, and now he is a Spanish citizen. Yet, it is difficult to digest Kasparov's stance as in the recent Linares event Rentero was compelled to impose on his `World champion' a 5,00,000 Peseta fine (2,100 Pounds) for offeringa 19-move draw to Veselin Topalov in Round 12. No one knows whether this fine was actually enforced or just another farce.But, at the moment, the chess World's vote is for Anand for displaying some statesmanlike qualities.