Anand expects a fightback

Despite being two points clear after just three games, Vishwanathan Anand is not going to take his mind off the World chess championship final.

Saturday is a rest day for Alexei Shirov and the Indian Grandmaster. While the rest of the people in Tehran, in connection with the FIDE championship, planned what sights to take in, Anand spent the day with his wife, Aruna, and rested in their hotel room. Certainly, he is totally focussed what with three games left in the match, and the knowledge that Shirov is a strong player who can still make a comeback.

"I think he is going to fight back. The match isn't over," he said, when asked about the situation.

On Friday, Anand won the third game of the six-game final to take a 2.5--0.5 lead.

The NIIT-sponsored Indian champion will certainly remember that Shirov came back after a loss against Evegeny Bareev in a two-game match. Against Alexander Grischuk, after leading 1-0, Shirov blundered in the second but came back roaring in the third game.

On Saturday morning, Anand went for a short walk and prepared for the next rounds in his room with his second, Elizibar Ubilava.

There has been a lot of pressure on Anand. But the Indian ace has not let it get to him. He has stayed focussed and kept his contact with others to a minimum by way of small, polite conversations, signing some autographs and giving the media his views on his games.

One of the few exceptions Anand made was after winning the semi-finals. He came for the prize distribution function at the end of the Delhi part of the World championships. Then Anand spent some time with the NIIT employees at a special lunch organised for him on the eve of his departure for Teheran. At that function, he was greeted by R Pawar, the CMD of NIIT, and his colleagues. They all signed special messages for Anand.

All India Chess Federation secretary P T Ummer Koya had promised before leaving for Teheran that his federation would hold a big reception for Anand if he wins the title. In fact, he was convinced that Anand would win the championship.

Over the next two or three days, depending on how long Anand takes to finish the match, the whole of India will be focussed on him. If, as expected, he wins, there will be a huge welcome for him. A great celebration in advance of the New Year is very much on the cards.