Despite closing the professional chapter in his life, Anand is still involved in the Indian chess scene. He has an opinion on the latest additions to Indian chess and follows the trajectory of players Arjun Arigasi and R Pragyanand
Despite closing the professional chapter in his life, Anand is still involved in the Indian chess scene. He has an opinion on the latest additions to Indian chess and follows the trajectory of players Arjun Arigasi and R Pragyanand
Viswanathan Anand, or Vishi, as he is affectionately called by many, is regarded as one of the world’s greatest rapid chess players of his generation. His achievements don’t end there, yet he doesn’t want to add more feathers to his already heavy hat.
“I’ve already stopped [playing]“I last played this cycle in 2019,” says Anand at a recent masterclass in Chennai; I did not play in subsequent competitions. My thing is to play occasionally, just to touch my knuckles with a sense of competition. I don’t expect to play all year or be a full time professional. A big project in my mind is the Westbridge-Anand Chess Academy [which I’ve been running] For about two years. I’m also joining Arkady Dvorkovich’s presidential team at FIDE. If we are elected next month, it will be an important project.”
Despite closing this professional chapter in his life, Anand is still involved in the Indian chess scene. Here’s his take on the latest additions to Indian chess: “I like the fact that D Gukesh has garnered some attention. You want to emphasize that he is a player who has steadily increased his ELO rating and has now crossed 2,700, which has already happened twice.”
Anand is following the path of Arjun Erigasi and R Pragyananand, “I am glad that he was accepted, and the strength he possesses is quite impressive. Arjun easily made the ‘A’ team and most of the players across the world believe that the current crop is very good. The good thing about all our juniors is that they inspire each other.”
PM Narendra Modi, Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin and Viswanathan Anand with torch at the opening ceremony of 44th Chess Olympiad in Chennai. Photo : Bijoy Ghosh | photo credit: Bijoy Ghosh
One of the ways Anand ensures the development of young International Masters (IM) and Grandmasters (GM) in India is through his academy. Of his students, he says, “I see that they are all hardworking and eager to learn. “They are ready to give hours and sacrifices. What I try to contribute is experience. There are a lot of things they can learn sooner or later,” he smiles, “but I want to do it quickly.”
He chooses his disciples with a degree of consideration. “I look for people who are very young, and already have very strong GMs (Grand Masters). Everyone in the academy has, more or less, made that cut. They became GMs long ago and since they were young So he has many years to go. I think he is India’s strongest junior now,” says Pioneer.
raising the future champion
Some of the brightest of this generation – and previous generations – come from Tamil Nadu. Anand thinks it may be a local tradition: “India’s first four IMs were from Tamil Nadu. We have always been a major state in this respect. Strong players from each generation start academies or become coaches who coach the next generation, so we have that cool change as well. There are parents who want to put their kids into chess. I think chess is very healthy for kids to learn. This tradition is perhaps the most important in motivating people to play chess.”
morphy on his mind
Although Anand has ended his full-time professional career in chess, there is one person he has been dying to play with. “Paul Morphy, he’s pretty much dead, but he has to be,” he laughs. Paul Charles Morphy was an American chess player born in 1837. He is often considered the unofficial world chess champion. This is only because according to historians the first official World Chess Championship was held in 1886. So why Morphy? Anand says, “I liked his game. “His game probably influenced the most people. They were the easiest to understand. it’s possible [that] In some way or the other now every top player was influenced by him.”
The influence of global players is also strong, says Anand. With Norwegian Grand Master Magnus Carlsen being a role model for young chess players, his recent departure from the 2023 title match will certainly have an impact on him. Anand shares his thoughts on this: “He influences people. Essentially everyone tries to imitate the leader but I don’t know how much effect it will have.
However, Anand also observes, “I think he” [Carlson] still wants to play at the top level of chess.” While Anand has been vocal about wanting to play for pleasure, he says, “I don’t think Carlsen is exactly that; He has decided that the format of the World Championship is not for him. Also I won’t compare my position because our motivations are quite different.”
While talk of chess is well and good, with the first International Chess Olympiad India hosted this week in Mamallapuram, what about the man behind the board? Anand has gained a lot of experience outside of chess as well, and has taken up a hobby that he is happy to talk about.
“I follow astronomy quite closely.” Anand says, “I am quite happy with the time I spend in comfort. Having a hobby is healthy because it gives you a chance to get away with chess at times. Sometimes you have to switch off, to switch back on.”