Despite two consecutive draws after the emphatic wins over Vladimir Kramnik and Joel Lautier, Anand looks strong and well prepared. The Indian continues to top the 12-man table with three points.

The rest he has taken since his last major tournament has helped him get fresh for this part of the season. After this tournament, his next major campaign will be the Fide World Championships before the 1999 editions of major events like Wijk Aan Zee, Linares and others begin.

Anand, in his recent preparations, has shown a great deal of improvement in openings. With each passing session, he looks more and more complete, a fact that is not lost on the chess world, which bestowed upon him the Oscar last season. Gary Kasparov is more than aware of him,considering him more dangerous than even Kramnik, whom he had been touting as his successor till recently.

In this tournament, Kramnik has done well except in his game against Anand where he was outplayed. But the players who have done well are Mathew Sadler, for whom the victory over countrymen Michael Adams was a big jump.

Then there is Vasselin Topalov of Bulgaria, whose play is now much stronger.

In the fifth round, which resumes tonight, Anand meets Leko, while the highlight of the round will be the Topalov-Kramnik clash. In other matches, Piket will meet Lautier, Adams takes on Peter Svidler while Loek Van Wely will meet Sadler, Viktor Korchnoi meets Vadim Zviaginsev.

In the sixth round, Anand meets Adams and the Indian will have white.

Points after four rounds: Anand (3), Topalov, Sadler and Van Wely (2.5 each), Zviaginsev, Leko, Sivdler, Adams and Kramnik (2 each), Piket (1.5), Lautier and Korchnoi (1 each).