Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2003 2:54 PM
Subject: [anand_chess] Linares Round Up


Peter Leko wins Linares 2003. Maybe, it is time to
add a fourth name (Leko's) to that elite list of
superGMs.

Kramnik played as he does -- +2 and no losses. (The
only one without losses.) Kasparov had an overall
lackluster performance, which he made worse by making
a scene after losing to the little kid Radjabov.
This is the first standard tournament that he did not
win in over 3 years. (I am not counting Garry 
out yet, no way. Watch him in June, when there will be
the Unification match.  My disappointment is that
Anand won't be playing in that one.)

Anand, it seemed, wasn't himself after his loss to
Kasparovs. He lost a rook-and-pawn endgame battle when
he probably shouldn't have, and one winning 
possibility petered out to a draw.

Anand did beat Radjabov with White (as did practically
everyone, except Garry).  Other than that, he got
draws. In the penultimate round, Anand lost to Peter
Leko which practically took him out of the running for
first.

Peter, on the other had the most wins and deservedly
won the tournament. Congrats to him.

ANAND's Performance in Linares 2003:

+3 -2 =7

ANAND's NEXT TOURNAMENT:

Amber Rapid and Blindfold. March 15th - 29th. Anand
usually does very well in Amber and often wins the
Rapid category, so let's hope he does that again!


Take care and thanks for reading,
Ram