The Hindu : Sport : Enjoying the game should complement preparations, says Viswanathan Anand

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Thursday, Dec 20, 2007
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Enjoying the game should complement preparations, says Viswanathan Anand

Principal Correspondent

— Photo: Mohammed Yousuf

TOUCH OF SUCCESS: World chess champion Viswanathan Anand obliging fans during the NIIT Mind Champions Academy’s function in Hyderabad on Wednesday.

HYDERABAD: He is the ‘King’ of the 64 squares. But the reigning World champion Viswanathan Anand doesn’t believe that it is the end of it for him. “I look at every competition as another significant event. Whatever you have achieved is past. Unless you thoroughly enjoy the game you play, you may not really succeed over a period of time,” says the affable Anand.

In the city for the awards presentation function of Mind Champions Academy on Wednesday, the 38-year-old Anand says that he doesn’t really play any event with an eye on some targets. “Yes, it is significant to win. But, you can be consistent only if you complement the level of preparations by enjoying the game as much as you can,” is his doctrine. “Essentially, I somehow do not keep finding artificial milestones. There is no substitute to hard work,” he says.

No comparison

Which of the two World championships he won gave him greater satisfaction? “Well, I don’t like to make any comparisons. All that is important is that I have one more. That is more satisfying,” says Anand. “I have to look at the future now. Three major events Corus, Linares and Monaco are lined up and hope to do well in all of them,” he remarked.

Commenting on the Indian chess scenario, Anand says that he still believes that India can produce another World champion in the immediate future. “Right now, my favourite is World No. 2 Koneru Humpy. She was already a favourite in two World championships but these things happen. ” he says.

Anand also believes that in this highly competitive chess world there is no clear favourite or the biggest challenger to any individual. On Gata Kamsky’s comeback, the World No.1 felt that the former Russian Grandmaster looked very good in recent times. “Looks to be enjoying his game and capable of pulling off a surprise or two,” he added.On his challenger match with Vladimir Kramnik, Anand said that he would be giving a long, serious thought and nothing had been finalised. “Only then I can explain about that proposed match,” he added.

Reflecting on too many age group World championships considering that there was earlier only one for world juniors when he started off, the champion from Chennai says that they (FIDE) have no alternative but to squeeze in the space for these events since the sport is getting younger if one looks at the talent bank across the world. The two-time World champion is pleased with the way NIIT’s Mind Champions Academy is producing results across the country.

“More than this, I am impressed with the reach of the programme across the length and breadth of the country. This again show the immense potential India has in chess,” he explained.

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