World Blitz, Corus on Anand's radar
Express News Service

CHENNAI, JANUARY 4: Indian ace Viswanathan Anand will return to classical chess after five months when he will play in the Corus Chess Tournament (previously known as Hoogovens Schaach Toomoi) at Wijk Aan Zee, from January 14-30.

Anand (2771), ranked No 2, will face the world's best in this Group A tourney. among them Garry Kasparov of Russia (2851-1), Vladimir Kramnik of Russia (2760-3), Alexander Morozevich of Russia (2758-4), Michael Adams of Britain (2708-7), Peter Leko of Hungary (2701-9), Viktor Korchnoi (2676-16), Nigel Short (2675-17), Judith Polgar (2671-19), Jan Timman (2650-31), Predrag Nikolic (2641-38), Jeroen Piket (2635-41), Loek van Wely (2629-43) and Smbat Lputian (2625-480), the winner of the Group B tourney. The matches of the 13-round tourney will begin on January 15 after the draw on January 14. Anand won the 51st and 60th Hoogovens tournament and was runner-up to Kasparov last year, half-a-point separating them.

Anand for World Blitz:
Anand will, however, begin his stinton the circuit in the new millennium in Warsaw, Poland, playing in the $ 30,500 prize money GSM World Blitz Chess Cup from January 9.

Anand would be crossing swords with seven players, including Morozevich, Alaexei Shirov, Boris Gelfand, Vassily Ivanchuk, A Bareev, Short and Peter Svidler.

Eleven double rounds, each of five minutes will be played with a break in between. The winner will take home the Plus GMS Cup.

Anand's best performance in this format of chess was at the Munich Blitz Tournament in 1991, which he won.

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