Hello Daaim:

IM Watu Kobese finds himself in Group B pitted against Alexey Dreev (Russia),Sergey Rublevsky (Russia), Zurab Azmaiparashvilli (Georgia), Alexander Yermolinsky (USA), and the youngest player of the event Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan). Dreev, with a seeding rating of 2673, is favoured to take first place.

There are four groups, the play will be a kind of round robin match, and the two top placed will proceed to the quarter finals.

Watu was in high spirits and quipped that he is indeed representing the Black folk world-wide and cannot afford to to be aced all round. After the lots were drawn, he was clearly excited because he intimated earlier the wish to start with black, which he got against Yermolinsky.

In other group news; Anand will do battle with China's Xu Jun in the opener of group C. Morocco's Hichem Hamdouchi is in the same group with Qatar's Mohammad Al-Modiaki, and Uzbekistan's Rustam Kasimdzanov. The Indian press is raving about the event widely and the grouping of Superstar Sasikiran with Anand leaves many wondering! That match will be eagerly awaited here.

The Indians have pulled out all stumps for this one. Players are treated like kings, and not forgeting the Queens who play in the opposite hall. There undoubtedly the star of the show is the young girl "Humpy". She evokes extreme fondness from even Indian VIP's, Who in their all but customary head melodical head shake leaves even me enviously wondering, "Africa! Black! Ivory!, whereever form you are! When is your time to cometh?"

Hey man this is truely exciting out here. I will try arranging for some nice pics!