Magnus Carlsen took only four rounds at this week's London Classic to edge ahead of Garry Kasparov's unofficial all-time live rating record of 2856 and, unless the 22-year-old Norwegian has a disaster in his final two games, on Saturday and Monday he will also break the legendary Russian's official global ranking record of 2851.

On Saturday Carlsen meets the US No1, Hikaru Nakamura in a game viewable free and live on the internet (2pm start). He has a bye on Sunday and in Monday's final round, when he has the white pieces against the world champion, Vishy Anand, he will be favourite to defeat the out-of-form Indian.

Is Carlsen now better than Kasparov and Bobby Fischer? Top grandmaster levels have been enhanced by powerful computer programs and databases but there has also been an inflationary factor. Kasparov and Fischer never had Carlsen's chance to score regular points against 2750 and 2700-rated opponents.

So the jury is still out but Carlsen has three factors in his favour. First he is now 50 rating points ahead of his nearest rivals, a measure of superiority which only Fischer equalled in 1971 when he crushed Mark Taimanov and Bent Larsen 6-0 in world title eliminators. Secondly he is starting to monopolise first prizes as Kasparov and Fischer did in their pomp. Finally at age 22, he should be at least five years from his peak. The debate should be settled by 2015-2020.

While Kasparov and Fischer liked to dominate right from the opening, Carlsen is often a slow crusher. He will reach the first time control with a minute advantage, then finesse, probe and manoeuvre in the endgame until his tiring opponent cracks, even if that takes till move 100.

Michael Adams, the UK No1, made a fine start to the Classic, with a win over the all-time best woman Judit Polgar which is significant for amateurs. Adams countered the Sicilian 1 e4 c5 by the formation Nf3, g3 Bg2, 0-0, Qe2 and Rd1, an idea advocated by Gawain Jones and also used by Luke McShane. This is the new English Attack, and it could soon arrive at club and tournament play near you.

Polgar erred by 8...0-0 (Nd4) and then more seriously by 13...Nb4? when Nb6 keeps her in the game. Adams converted ruthlessly. His 20 Bb6! and Bc7 stopped counterplay, he dodged the trap 28 Qc6? Rxc7! and Polgar resigned because after g6 37 c8Q Qxf2+ 38 Kh1 she is out of checks.

M Adams v J Polgar

1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 g3 Nc6 4 Bg2 Nf6 5 Qe2 d5 6 exd5 Nxd5 7 O-O Be7 8 Rd1 O-O 9 d4 cxd4 10 Nxd4 Nxd4 11 Rxd4 Bf6 12 Rd1 Qc7 13 c4 Nb4? 14 Nc3 a6 15 Bf4 e5 16 Be3 Be6 17 Nd5 Nxd5 18 cxd5 Bf5 19 d6 Qd7 20 Bb6 Rac8 21 Bc7 Bg4 22 Bf3 h5 23 Rac1 Rfe8 24 Bxg4 hxg4 25 Qe4 Bg5 26 Rc5 Bd8 27 Qxb7 Re6 28 Rdd5 Rf6 29 Qxa6 Qf5 30 Qe2 Qb1+ 31 Rd1 Qxa2 32 Rxe5 Bxc7 33 Re8+ Rxe8 34 Qxe8+ Kh7 35 dxc7 Qa7 36 Qe4+ 1-0

3283 1...Kg4! 2 Rg1+ Kh4 3 Rg8 Re2+ 4 Kg1 f3 5 Rf8 Kg4 6 Rf7 Kg3 7 Rg7+ Kf4 and Black will win by Ke3-d2-e1. Anand's blunder shows that rooks belong behind passed pawns, not in front of them.