The Hindu : Sport / Chess : Bad move by AICF, says Anand

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Sunday, Sep 12, 2004

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Sport - Chess

Bad move by AICF, says Anand

By Our Sports Reporter

Viswanathan Anand ... standing up for players. — Photo: P.V. Sivakumar

HYDERABAD, SEPT. 11. Former world champion and three-time winner of the prestigious Chess Oscar, Viswanathan Anand said that the move by the All India Chess Federation to have a cut of 10 per cent from the prize money for any tournament it conducts was a bad one.

"No other Federation in the world does it," he said. In fact, "efforts should be on to increase the prize money for the players," Anand added.

He welcomed the proposal by the big guns in Indian chess to form the Indian Chess Players' Association. "Players should unite for a common cause and have a structure. After all, at the world level, all the Grandmasters form the Chess Players' Association.

"I was consulted by them before making their intentions clear. I have told them that we will discuss in detail very soon. Anyhow, it is not yet formally registered. I will be in touch with all the Indians," Anand said.

It'll be Russia

Regarding the Olympiad to be held in Spain next month where he will spearhead India's challenge after a long gap, Anand said the chances were good. "In all probability, Russia would win the gold," he said frankly.

About the Indian performance at the recent FIDE World meet, where most of the players were eliminated in the first round itself, Anand said it was disappointing. "I personally felt that Koneru Humpy's performance was the most heartening and with a little bit of luck she could have advanced to the next phase."

The World No. 2 said he was aiming to join the elite ELO 2800 club for which he is just 18 points away. "For me, the Olympiad is a big event on the cards. I hope to do well there as I will be in touch with my team-mates regularly over the next one month," Anand said.

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