Always nice to be at the pinnacle: Anand
A STAFF REPORTER
Tuesday , December 22 , 2009
Calcutta: World No. 3 and reigning world champion Viswanathan Anand was in town to felicitate the East Zone winners of the NIIT Mindchampions Academy — Chess Master 2009, on Monday. From playing simultaneous chess with youngsters to teaching a trick or two to magician PC Sorcar, or signing around 100 autographs, Anand had a rollicking time at the DPS, Ruby Park. The smiling assassin also took time out to interact with the media.
The following are excerpts
How does it feel to be a world champion?
A It gives me a kick to be a world champion. Yeah, it’s always nice to be at the pinnacle and find out how it looks from the top. But being a champion has never made me feel complacent. In fact, it gives me impetus to work harder and strive to be better.
Whether defending the world title brings added pressure
Not really. I am not the defending champion in the sense that I won’t be winning the title if I drew with (Vaselin) Topalov. The match will go to the tie-breakers.
[Anand, who defeated Vladimir Kramnik to win the 2008 crown, will be playing current world No. 1 Vaselin Topalov for the world title in April next year.]
His preparation for the world title
The first part of 2010 will be hectic. In January, I am playing the Corus chess and in April, the World Championship. I am preparing hard for the April meet. Working more than 12 hours a day. Preparing for a World Championship is no mean task. You have to work 10 times more than what you do under normal circumstances. Physically and mentally, I have to be at my peak. I have to be ready to fight till the end.
The difference between Kramnik and Topalov
Kramnik is more from the classical school of chess. While Topalov loves to move around. I will have to look for chinks in Topalov’s armour and try to guess which way to attack.
His form before the World Championship has always been far from satisfactory. Is it a ploy to fool his opponent when the real battle begins?
I don’t think so. You don’t do these things intentionally. It’s just that this year I haven’t performed well enough to win a title.
Is the poor form a cause for concern?
No way. I know how to reach my peak when it comes to the crunch. If you don’t give your best in the World Championship, where else do you give? I will be motivated enough in April to give my best shot.
Here is the full article.
Anand is the best player in this decade.
Carlsen is Anand second against Topalov!?
I wish Anand all the best in Sofia,but as Kramnik says Anand’s chances are diminished by playing in Sofia. also I find it hard to digest that a drawn result goes to tie-breaks! A drawn result should mean that the Champion retains his title! But then the powers that be seem to be going all out against Anand! And as the last resort there is always Danailov and his antics!
I don’t really understand why the chances for Anand are diminished by playing in Sofia. The players are used to play the tournements in all kind of countries, so I don’t think that’s a big issue! Kramnik thinks about Topalov that he’ll do the same tricks that the russian team did in Elista and that’s a pity! And you people are all convinced that Danailov is a magician that can help actually during this match. No, he can’t! After all I’m sure Anand will have a great team of seconds and will be more supported and helped by GMs! He’s simply more liked by the other great players than Topalov. But even so, in the end, the match will happen on the board, isolated from others, between simply those two players. Still I agree on the point that Topalov must win in the classic games to be considered true Champion!