Viswanathan Anand lashes out at his critics
NDTV Correspondent
Last updated on Saturday, 02 June 2012 11:57
New Delhi: In a rare display of irritation, Viswanathan Anand, who two days ago won his fifth world title, on Friday hit out at chess great Garry Kasparov and other critics for suggesting that he lacked motivation.
“I think that this is the first time I have played a match where so many people seemed to have negative opinion about my play. And the thing is I do not think I lacked motivation,” Anand said about his clash with Israel’s Boris Gelfand, whom he beat in Moscow on Wednesday to win his fifth world title.
42-year-old Anand told NDTV in an interview from Moscow that a lot of people were ‘parroting’ Kasparov’s views. “It was not just Kasparov but a lot of people were parroting what he was saying. It (the win) was satisfying to win with a negative opinion around me.”
The champion, who is known for his cool temperament, said that he had proved Russian Kasparov, who is one of the greatest ever chess players, wrong. Some years ago, he had described Kasparov as his nemesis after losing matches to him.
“He (Kasparov) keeps talking about my age but I could just as well say Boris (Gelfand) is even slightly older. I think the problem is all the people who started out assuming that I was the heavy favourite in this match were reluctant to admit that their prognosis was wrong,” Anand said.
Anand said he never considered himself as the favourite and knew that Gelfand would be a tough opponent.
“I never saw myself as a favourite, the thing is I knew Gelfand would be a very very difficult opponent. And looking at his recent plays I understood that this is how the match would go. And so I never felt I had to answer after every game ‘what was going wrong?’ because nothing was going wrong.
“This was Gelfand playing well and me trying to play equally well, hang in there and wait for my chance. But all those people who said I was a favourite were reluctant to admit that they were wrong and were simply saying that I lacked motivation and was playing badly and so on and on. And I definitely feel like I proved something here,” said Anand.
The Indian Grandmaster gave credit to Gelfand who never allowed him to play his natural game.
“I think you have to give full credit to my opponent Gelfand. He never let me get the kind of play that I like and that is very frustrating as you like to play in a certain way but Gelfand neutralised almost everything I did and so I had to cope with that.
“But it was very satisfying, especially when the ambience around you is so negative. In the press conference they more or less keep repeating what people like Kasparov said. It is no secret that I have had difficulty in a couple of tournaments and my confidence therefore suffers a bit. But I think under those circumstances if you can hang in there and win like this then it is all the more satisfying,” Anand said.
Giving his account of the final day’s tie-breaker, Anand said, “I actually managed to feel like the tide (was) turning in the first game itself. Because for the first time with black I managed to get a very exciting position and I managed to almost beat him.”
“So then I felt the tide was turning, but still the match was very intense. It went back and forth in game three and four of the tie-break as well, he had very good chances. So I think it is much harder (to win) like this and definitely that is that much more satisfying,” Anand said.
The chess great said losing the seventh game of the regular 12-matches was a tough blow and he really suffered that evening.
“Well I think the first shock was in game seven because a loss is always a bad thing but it is much worse in match where you are struggling to find any openings, you are struggling to find a weakness of his you can target, you are struggling to find something you can aim for.
“And this match was just like that, there were very little chances being created. And in those circumstances to lose the seventh game was an incredibly difficult blow, I really suffered that evening. The eighth game was the first game I have played without getting any sleep,” said Anand.
“But the turning was really the eighth game when I managed to come back. I had prepared myself for a big struggle and went there. I would say game eight was a major turning point, when I managed to equalise that, then I knew in the last four games, again, I would have to be patient. But at least I could start on even terms.
“But again in every conference they keep asking you ‘are you motivated?’ ‘are you motivated?’ and it is frustrating because you feel you are giving it your all, and people can’t see it. I simply try to understand that the most important thing is not to let others affect you and to stay focused on the match,” he said.
Asked whether chess gets enough adulation in the country, Anand said he has been received well everywhere in the country and he has no complaints.
“Generally after each of my matches I have been received tumultuously in Chennai, I simply don’t want to complain. I think the reception has been wonderful. I don’t compare these receptions to other things and I’m quite happy. Also this time I’ll have a pretty warm welcome from my son, so that will be very nice. So I’m not complaining at all. The Indian chess fans have been very good to me and I’m not gonna complain.”
Source: http://sports.ndtv.com
Kasparov is wrong.
It is important to be respectful of the players..and it is not incorrect to wonder..”What went wrong here?”
Is the WCC to be played like “Gentlemen?” or is it a war? I think we know what Mr Anand thinks. And Mr Gelfand too if he knows whats good for him. Mr Kasparov..(I always found him a little annoying for some reason)..put his finger right on the problem..and I’m quite sure he was not totally incorrect…though he could have said thingss in a nicer way. He’s simply not capable. I’m on the fence with this one..An old tired (Great)Champion finding ways to justify his efforts by beating someone who really should not be there.is what I’m feeling. Lipstick on a pig…that sort of thing. But again..this is not the players fault..I need to really push this point. Let’s be nice about this situation. The world is too well informed these days to let this pass. Mr Gelfand displayed quite well that Mr Anand is not really the force he used to be.. Though he’s very hard to beat..as anyone can tell you. Mr Gelfand did what he could do and should be congratulated for it. Fide dropped the ball. Lets start over.
when kasparov wins he smiles.. when he loses he would show his uncivilized side. Ken Thompson was a genius genius scientist in the Deep Blue project. When Kaspy lost he questions the fairness of Ken. Even Karpov accepts defeats gracefully. Youtube seville 87 last game. If Garry lost would he care even discussing.. he is not a bad loser a worst loser.. but I would consider him best after Fischer.
Anand has won 3 world championships in a row. He has earned the right to speak his mind.
Anand didn’t have a motivation problem, he had a strategy problem with his caution to the extreme game plan. This totally played into Gelfand’s hands because Anand was not putting his usual pressure on his opponent. A close match was inevitable when Anand adopted a “don’t hurt me” approach which is certainly not how he got to the highest levels of chess. Notice when Anand was forced out of his faulty strategy when Gelfand took the lead Anand came back roaring because he was playing the kind of aggressive chess that is his strength.