Anand focuses on Mission Moscow
NEW DELHI, December 24, 2011
Viswanathan Anand needs no effort to name the best moment in his life.
“It’s easy. April 9 this year. My son was born,” Anand told a huge gathering of NIIT students and officials, here on Friday. Anand may be enjoying every bit of the “unbelievable experience” he is going through these days, yet he has not allowed his focus to waver from Mission Moscow — the World championship match against Boris Gelfand in May next year.
Defending the World title itself is a massive motivation for the chess wizard. “That (defending the crown) is big enough (motivation), we are playing for huge stakes. There is nothing like playing for something after being told that ‘this is it’. Both of us understand what a huge opportunity this is,” said Anand.
The 42-year-old is yet to start his preparations for the much-awaited contest. “Right now, I am going to take a break. I have just come off three tournaments, so you want some time alone. I want to spend some time with my son and, in the New Year, I will start training. I guess I will train for two or three months. There will be enough time.”
Anand said he could not take his opponent for granted even though he knew Gelfand’s game for a long time and understood that the 43-year-old classical Belarus-born Israeli player was “not going to put the pieces in unconventional ways unless there is a very good reason for it.”
“Gelfand will have several months to train, so I have to anticipate all the faces he can show in May.”
Anand, who will not play any tournament before the World championship match, said he would ensure that he kept his morale high despite experiencing an indifferent year. However, he would not waste much time pondering over the problem areas. “I will do a brief analysis of this, park it and focus on the (World championship) match. After June, I will have a look at it,” he said. — Principal Correspondent
Source: http://www.thehindu.com
Nakamura should challenge Anand for the title. He can easily win it.
Sure Naka would easily win againt Anand Jr. That too not for long.. Cannot win US championship; Kicked out by Garry; He can organize a WC at home and win it – just to satisfy his ego
I think Gelfand has a very good chance of becoming the next World Champion. That said I hope Anand retains his title.
AndI recommended Karpov should train Nakamura, if possible and Karpov willing, but Ivanchuk should train Morozevich, is possible.
I think, two cooks make a poor soup, that what the beginning of the London tournament seemed to me. Then Nakamura played as himself(though he had learnt from Kasparov; I hope not too much, Kasparov will have a predesition for his own openings, and I so like the dutch myself, even though I rarely dare venture into the Leningrad which is alike the Grünfeld in ways). He triumhped.
Nakamura has a fair chance of Karpov’s patronage: aside from Carlsen, he mentioned Nakamura on his past campaign; this cannot be chance, obviously he sees good things in Nakamura’s games.
Myself, I a few weeks gone contacted people at the Helsinki chess club(the espoo(where I live) chess club actually play further off), so perhaps soon I will experience my first long game. I wonder if I should study my opening books before that, well, I didn’t get past the closed sicilian last time, just too much with no practical use. I guess a fresh mind alike Tal or Karpov is good. Though I have the books on my repertoire at hand. (And being restrainedly aggressive I tend to beat the Caro Kan)
Ah, perhaps, if Karpov trained a few people, Morozevich would be there too. Karpov doesn’t strike me as a person who overrides the views of others, only he has much knowledge to impart. In actuality I don’t know Morozevich needs anything, but if anything, Karpov has the knowledge to impart.
And of course Nakamura’s and Morozevich’s and someone’s training would be clearly separated. Karpov after all was someone who sought to win. How could chess be viewed as a passtime, the objective is to win. But like that, it could be managed, confidentiality but full support.