Seemingly content about being out of the World Championship chaos, Anand continues to combine classical with rapid and blitz events in steady success. He comfortably won Corus (9/13, with Topalov) – his 4th such victory, and cleaned up in the strong rapid tourneys – most impressively his repeats in Melody Amber (first place in the blitz and joint first overall), and Mainz.

Vishy finished in an ok 3rd place in Sofia’s M-Tel, but his decision to play at the Olympiad the very next day proved a costly one - His fatigue-borne 50% result cost him nearly 20 ELO points. Playing again in the Bundesliga, Anand scored a strong 5/7 against 2600++ opposition, for a net gain of… 0.5 ELO point. Perhaps a good start to the year 2007 will see a return to the previously achieved 2800 uber-milestone mark.

In January, much of the media focus and the crowd curiosity might hover around Topalov and Kramnik. That may be a good thing for the likeable Indian Grandmaster, who in a place he had traditionally performed well, could concentrate and aim on stealing the show with a (yet another) first place finish.