MADRID, May 19: Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand will require all his quick-thinking prowess backed by computer-like memory in place and a bit of luck to register all-wins in the remaining games to be able to emulate chess wizard Garry Kasparov by crossing the 2800 Elo mark.World number two Anand has a comparatively tough task at hand -- to win three games, two with black pieces -- in the 7th Torneo Magistral Chess Tournament here.
The Indian, who is leading the pack of 10 players with 4.5 points, one full point clear of second-placed Peters Svidler of Russia and Leko of Hungary, needs to collect seven plus points in this category-17 tournament to touch the elusive 2800-mark.
Victory for Anand in the Madrid Open here is almost certain considering sluggish form shown by other players midway through the competition even as the Indian has remained unbeaten with three victories and as many draws.
The only real challenger here will be World number nine Svidler, whom Anand will meet in the final ninth roundwith the disadvantage of playing with black pieces. However, his full point lead should see him through to his third straight title of the season. The 28-year-old Anand will play Alex Yermolinsky of the US tonight, Peruvian Granda Zuniga in the eighth round and Svilder in the ninth on May 22.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
