Defending champion and Grandmaster (GM) Viswanathan Anand will be eying two records, as he goes into the Corus Chess Tournament Friday - to become the first player to win this title five times, and also a unique hat-trick.

Having emerged triumphant in 1989, 1998, 2003 and 2004, the 35-year-old world No. 2 would like to continue his good form of the year gone by, as he seeks to complete a hat-trick of titles, at the first big chess event of the year.

An NIIT Brand Ambassador, Anand had a brilliant last year, during which he won the classical event in Dortmund, rapid events Mainz, Sao Paulo and Corsica besides taking India to their best-ever finish, a sixth place at the Olympiad.

"I just won everything I played. That is an awesome feeling," Anand said.

The 17-day tournament will be played at the Dorpshuis De Moriaan in Wijk aan Zee, a sea-side resort, about an hour's journey from Amsterdam.

"Being the first in the calendar year, players are motivated to start the year on a good note. Coming after a good break, chess players tend to be better prepared and have studied a lot of theory and opening preparations," Anand said.

In this field, Anand will play the Cuban GM Lazaro Bruzon for the first time. Bruzon came in by virtue of having won last year's B group event.

"Vladimir Kramnik and myself have played in nearly all-classical events. He is a very tough rival to beat," said Anand of his main rival.

Last year, Anand and Kramnik played in Corus, Dortmund and Amber Rapid and Blind Chess. Anand defeated Kramnik in the finals in the rapid format in Dortmund.

Also competing, among others, will be Peter Svidler, Alexander Morozevich, Michael Adams and Peter Leko.

Incidentally, Leko defeated Anand in Armenia versus the World match, but the Indian starts as the favourite whenever the two clash.

"In a classical event of this duration, energy levels will be important. Essentially, the stamina should last till the last rounds," said Anand, about his prospects in Corus 2005.

Boasting of 14 of the world's best stars, the Corus GM tournament is now in its 67th edition.

Chess legends like Max Euwe, Vassily Smyslov, Tigran Petrosian have all participated. In the current field, Anand is the only player to have won it more than once-- four times, in all.

Anand, who is sponsored by NIIT is a regular at Wijk Aan Zee and a big favourite with the crowds.

The event is followed by a knowledgeable audience, which votes for a daily prize of best game.

It is also devoted to tradition, as the organisers take care to ensure each player gets what he likes most.

For instance, according to Anand, the sponsors always ensure that he is welcomed with bottles of Chocomel, a famous chocolate drink.

On his favourite thing in Wijk Aan Zee, Anand said: "The wind, the playing hall and, of course, Chocomel."

The closing function has a ritual pea soup ceremony, where all participants are invited to a dinner of traditional Dutch pea soup, which started during the war in 1944 and is maintained to this date.

Anand has one of the best records at Wijk Aan Zee, where he has won three times since 1996 and finished second on all other occasions.

When Anand won the historic Corus title for the fourth time in 2004, he joined an exclusive club of players, including former world chess champion Max Euwe, Lajos Portisch and Viktor Kortchnoi.

Anand played his first Hoogovens Tournament - old name of Corus chess -- in 1989 and he was invited as the world junior champion to play in the Group A. He won it on his first attempt.

Interestingly, Anand's win against Bareev in 2004 was considered one of his best games of the year.

"This is one of the strongest Corus events. There is a very high average rating so I expect a very tough challenge," said Anand from Wijk Aan Zee.

PLAYERS: Viswanathan Anand (rating 2,786 ELO points); Veselin Topalov (2,757); Vladimir Kramnik (2,754); Peter Leko (2,749); Alexander Morozevich (2,741); Michael Adams (2,741); Peter Svidler (2,735); Judit Polgar (2,728); Alexander Grischuk (2,710); Ruslan Ponomariov (2,700); Ivan Sokolov (2,685); Loek van Wely (2,679); Nigel Short (2,674); Lazaro Bruzon (2,652)