Shirov hot favourite for FIDE
Grand Prix title

Following a string of upsets, Latvian-born Spaniard Alexei Shirov is now the hot favourite to annex the inaugural FIDE Grand Prix chess crown.

Saturday was the only free day in the event and the 16 contenders vying for all-important Grand Prix points and a handsome prize purse will resume battle on Sunday.

Former World champion Vishwanathan Anand hasn't quite lived up to his reputation in Rapid chess and after the second round loss against Georgian Zurab Azmaiparashvili, is fighting for the 9-12 places in the tournament.

The semi-final line-up is interesting, with Shirov slated to play Russian sensation Alexander Grishchuk, and former World junior champion Kiril Georgiev of Bulgaria up against GM Peter Leko of Hungary.

Anand will play his next match against young GM Teimour Radjabov in their first encounter in a tournament. Radjabov hails from Baku in Azerbaijan, where world's highest-rated player Gary Kasparov was also born.

Shirov has been in his element so far, playing lively and living dangerously. He was lucky escape being mated against Azmaipar Ashvili in the previous round and rode on his luck to win the match in a tie-break. Yet, Shirov's victories have been quite the way he wants them. Attack, attack and attack have turned out to be the three winning words for him and he is now sitting pretty. The next match, however, is crucial, as Grishchuk, who is playing in Dubai in the capacity of highest rated junior, also likes to hum the same tune.