The Hindu : Sport / Chess : Anand keen to play more often in India

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Friday, Oct 01, 2004

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Sport - Chess

Anand keen to play more often in India

By P. K. Ajith Kumar

KOZHIKODE, SEPT. 30. Viswanathan Anand wants to play more often in his own country. Widely regarded as the best chess player in the world at the moment, the 34-year-old Chennaiite has played in just three tournaments in India after joining the world's elite in the sport more than a decade ago. "I would love to play in a high-category tournament in India,'' he said on Wednesday night in an interview to The Hindu shortly before leaving for Spain.

``The Category 16 event held in Pune recently is a good development as far as hosting tournaments in India are concerned,'' he said. ``But its category was of course too low for my rating. I would be happy to play in higher category events in India.''

Anand felt conducting such an event wouldn't be impossible for the organisers. ``I think sponsors could be roped in for a tournament with big some stars in international chess. I've always enjoyed playing in India,'' said Anand who last played in the country at the World Cup in Hyderabad in 2002. He had won that event, and before that he had played in the first leg of the World championship in New Delhi in 2000. He qualified for the final from there, and then went on to win the World title in Teheran. You have to go back to 1994 for another Indian tourney featuring Anand (the Sanghi Nagar World Championship Candidates matches).

Chess Olympiad

Anand's next assignment is the Chess Olympiad to be held in Mallorca, Spain, where he will captain India, from October 15. He's making a return to the biennial competition, the biggest team event in chess, after a gap of 12 years. ``I'm excited at the prospect,'' he said. ``I've some pleasant memories about the Olympiad, especially the one in Manila in 1992."

He said that for the first time ever the Indian team had real chances of finishing in the medal list. "It's a young team and our average rating too is rather high. But I want to clarify one thing though. There were some reports in the media of late about my comments on our women's team's prospects at the Olympiad. I never said they would have it easy. All I said was there was no clear favourite in the women's Olympiad and our team has the potential to do well. In the men's event, the Russians are clearly the favourite, unless the team is severely depleted, but it's certainly not so in the women's event. That was what I said."

The World No. 2 said he was happy with the appointment of his former trainer Elizbar Ubilava of Georgia as the men's team coach for the Olympiad. ``I've always enjoyed working with him, and I'm sure the players will benefit a lot from him.''

Great time

He said he had had a great time in India over the last one month, during which he had many social engagements to oblige. "Yes, I was kept quite busy, with so many functions, including a few by my sponsor NIIT. And there were many special moments, like the 50th wedding anniversary of my parents; it was nice as the entire family celebrated it together. And earlier today, I had this wonderful interaction with the children of Vidya Sagar, and I will be carrying with me to Spain with some new visiting cards I got from there as a gift.''

He was referring to the cards designed by one of the students of Vidya Sagar, a school for disabled children. He's a bit disappointed though that he wouldn't be in Chennai for Diwali. "For the last many years, I couldn't be here for Diwali," he said. "Normally I would be playing at that time."

This year India is expecting a Diwali gift from the genial genius, in the form of an Olympiad medal.

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