Anand needs to boost artillery to stay afloat

Anand needs to boost artillery to stay afloat

Linares (Spain), March 3: World number two Viswanathan Anand will have to strengthen his artillery and regain his decisive touch to remain in contention for top honours in the Linares Super Grandmasters chess tournament here.

After three rounds, Kasparov shares the lead with compatriot GM Vladimir Kramnik, both having two points. The Russian duo are followed by Shirov and Peter Leko (Hungary) on 1.5 points each while Anand and FIDE world champion Alexander Khalifman of Russia share the last spot with a point each.

Kramnik is playing his usual variety of positional chess. After outplaying Khalifman from an equal position in Round One, he drew his next two games with Leko and Kasparov, and would now be looking to add a few to his casualty list.

Shirov was unfortunate to go down to Kasparov in a drawn endgame in the first round but the victory against Anand in an inferior position more than made up for it.

An uncompromising tactical genius, Shirov looks good with his black pieces and should his whites favour him too, he could made a difference in the overall standings.

The rock-solid Leko has not won a game yet and this doesn't amuse him. The game against Khalifman in the third round was a close shave. The youngest in the tournament, Leko has gone from strength to strength in the last one year.

Termed an outsider before the start of the tournament, Khalifman has not done badly. The loss to Kramnik was the one he would like to forget while the two draws must have done him good.

But Khalifman is unlikely to pose a real threat to any of the other competitors.