Topalov threatens to spoil Anand's Oscar party

Brussels, Apr 23 (UNI) Viswanathan Anand's bid to win the Chess Oscar for the third consecutive time is facing stiff challenge from World Champion Veselin Topalov, who is leading the voting for this year's award to be given away here on May 22.

Anand, who has won the award in 1997, 1998, 2003 and 2004 is second behind the Bulgarian followed by Armenian Grandmaster Levon Aronian and the legandary Gary Kasparov, who has won the award 11 times.

Chess Oscar for the Player of the Year is awarded by the International Association of Chess Press. The award was instituted in 1968 and the first winner was Russian Grandmaster Boris Spasky.

Since 1995 the contest has been organized by a magazine. The statue named ''Enchanted Wanderer'' will be bestowed to the winner at a special ceremony during the second edition of the super tournament M-Tel Masters.

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