MOSCOW: Viswanathan Anand is all set to snatch the coveted chess oscar from the world No 1 Garry Kasparov of Russia, following the Indian's stupendous performance in 1997 at various chess tournaments. World No 3 Anand enjoyed the top rating in the voting conducted by a Russian chess magazine 64 Chess Review.

The former world champion Kasparov, who held this title twice, was trailing far behind anand with world No 2 Vladimir Kramnik of Russia neck-and-neck with him, a Russian daily Noviye Izvestia reported here today.

This prestigious international prize is awarded by the Russian chess magazine to the best chess player of the year on the basis of his real merit and strength and not the titles.

Over 300 Grandmasters and chess media experts from more than 50 countries have for the first time named Anand as the world's best chess player.

Anand was also the unanimous choice of many international chess tournament organisers, who in their fax messages to the Russianchess magazine rated him as the top player.

Gill likely to get another term

NEW DELHI: KPS Gill is likely to be elected president of the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) for a second term. At the federation's elections to be held in Hyderabad on May 10, Gill is expected to be re-elected to the top post following the `disinterest' reportedly shown by Sukhbir Singh Badal, Union Minister of State for Industries.

The name of Sukhbir Singh Badal, son of Punjab chief minister Prakash Singh Badal, had been doing the rounds for the past ten days with the Chandigarh and Punjab units backing his candidature.

Though one need not be an office-bearer in a state hockey association to represent it at the IHF annual general body meeting and contest an election, Punjab Hockey Association secretary Hardip Singh Dhillon had stepped down from his post and Badal elected in his place.