Viswanathan Anand

Holand the host nation of the Tata Steel chess tournament for 2011, showcasts action  packed performances from various chess masters of the world. World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand, faces a series of stiff competition after a day long pause at Wijk aan Zee.

Anand will play against Dutch Jan Smeets, Russian Alexander Grischuk, Norwegian Magnus Carlsen and Armenian Levon Aronian in order playing alternatively with black and white coins before his second pause.

Anand can make out a draw with Smeets but with the rest, its quite difficult to move on. Carlsen and Grischuk are the two players with 1.5 points each at this stage. Carlsen is expected to give a tough fight after his shocking defeat with Anish Giri.  Aronian might also be a tough fight for Anand.

In the lower grades, Surya Shekar Ganguly meets Wesley and Tania faces Rob van Kampen. Tania has gained more importance by playing over Grand masters Ivan Ivanisevic and Dariusz Swiercz with black  pieces.

Pairings for the fifth round:

Jan Smeets (2) vs Viswanathan Anand (3);

Hikaru Nakamura (3) vs Rusian Ponomariov (2);

Maxime Valchier-Lagrave (2.5) vs Anish Giri (2.5);

Magnus Carlsen(1.5) vs Erwin L’Ami (2);

Vladimir Kramnik (2) vs Levon Aronian (2.5);

Wang Hao (1) vs Alexander Grischuk (1.5);

Ian Nepomniachtichi (2) vs Alexei Shirov (0.5)

Tags: Alexander Grischuk, Chess, Holand, Jan Smeets, Levon Aronian, Magnus Carlsen, Viswanathan Anand, World Champion