With just three more rounds to play, Maxime Vachier-Lagraev of France is at the forefront having scored four points with Boris Gelfand, Levon Aronian, Laurent Fressinet and Michael Adams — all with 3.5 points — hot on his heels.

Anand, meanwhile, is in the sixth spot with three points and with white games slated against Fressinet and Peter Svidler, has every reason to be optimistic about his chances in the tournament.u00a0