Both the stock market and Mr. Kramnik have staged a rally, Kramnik pulling the score back to 6-4 and the S&P 500 coming back some 10%. Kramnik’s comeback might have been more significant in a match of more than 12 games (as it is, Anand just needs a draw to take the match) but with markets we have all the time in the World. At least I hope we do. All the money being pumped into the financial system comes at a cost to the tax payer. So I think we have some difficult times ahead for the ‘real economy’.

Anyway, the prospect that we will limp through all this has at least perked up my Zhan Zhuang. At yesterday evening’s class there was much less to correct and I think I’m reaching new highs. Of course there are no particularly visible benefits, though regular practice is said to increase internal strength and reduce the odds of illness. In other words it’s a question of prophylaxis, as Nimzovitsch would have put it.