Anand more difficult than Kasparov: Kramnik

Viswanathan Anand, who regained his number two spot in the world chess rankings this week has likened his rivalry with Vladimir Kramnik to Formula One races.

The Indian chess ace said, "I am thrilled (at getting back to number 2). Both Vlady [Kramnik] and myself are like the Formula One circuit. At each bend one of us goes into top gear. I made steady progress in 2003 and this has reflected in the ratings. It is not easy to make points in (high category) tournaments. The competition is much tougher and your expected scores are already very high. So each point you make is treasured."

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Kramnik who recently won at Linares was quoted as saying, "For me as a player, it is more difficult to play Anand, than to play [Garry] Kasparov."

Anand and Kramnik have played interesting classical games in 2003 and 2004, all ending in draws. In Rapid chess, Anand has a slight edge. He defeated Kramnik in Capd'Agde and as well as in the recent Amber Blind and Rapid Chess event.

The two stars, who share a great friendship, have a lot of respect for each other's playing abilities.

Anand, who is expected to lead the Indian challenge at the World Chess Olympiad later this year, will now take a break and then start preparing in May for the summer circuit in Europe.

His current rating of 2774 could go up following his performances in the German league and that will reflect in the July rating list.

"I will take some rest from chess now. In May I will start preparing for the next leg of the chess circuit (in Europe). As World No.2 you just have to try harder," he said.

Anand, with a string of strong performances in classical chess in 2002, 2003 and 2004, came back to the World No.2 spot, which he held in 2000. Kramnik, Anand's closest rival at World No.3, held the same position at World No.2  after defeating Garry Kasparov in 2000.

Incidentally, Kasparov, who has reduced his tournament play of late, lost a whopping 14 points in the latest list and is now rated at 2817. Anand is at 2774 and Kramnik is 2764.

Anand first climbed to the No.2 position in 1996. Since then both Kramnik and Anand have been constantly exchanging positions for the second and third spot.