Anand not considering retirement soon
4 Jun 2012 2:02 AM IST
Five-time world chess champion Viswanathan Anand on Sunday ruled out retiring from the game in the near future and said that he was enjoying his game after beating Boris Gelfand in the 'biggest test' in his career.
'There are definitely no thoughts of retirement. In fact quite the opposite. (Winning a fifth world title) has been a huge boost to my morale and I really want to play chess. This is something I have enjoyed. As long as I enjoy, I don't see any reason to retire,' Anand said.
'I am still enjoying the game having just defended my title. I am looking forward to playing chess and winning tournaments. I am really happy as you can imagine that I had retained my title this time and this has been my biggest test so far,' he told reporters during a felicitation function organised by his long-time sponsors NIIT here.
The 42-year-old Indian defeated Israeli Boris Gelfand in the World Championship match in Moscow a few days ago to successfully defend his world title.
Asked if there was anything left to prove to his detractors, Anand said, "I do not think I have anything more to prove. Winning in Moscow meant a lot emotionally. It's not only about records. For me when I went to this match I had no idea whether it was fourth or tenth (title).
'It's just that you hate losing and you love winning. For me, the number has been irrelevant. Every title defence is special. I simply want to enjoy playing chess. There is no checklist,' he said.
Anand dismissed the suggestion that he did not defend the world championship title since he had won it on tie-breaker.
'In the 60s, if a world champion drew the match he retained the title without a tie-break. There was a revenge match also as a bonus. In that perspective, the current system is fair and much more legitimate,' he said.
'It's not that we straightaway start with tie-breaks. We played 12 games to spot the winner. I do not see any objection to tie-breaks. It is followed in lot of sports like football, tennis and so on. It mirrors the development in lot of sports. Lot of fans really enjoy tie-breaks in chess.'
Anand also gave a detailed account of his preparations leading up to the match and the turning points during it.
'My training was from Jan 15 to April 15. This time my preparation was very intensive because I did not have a camp. Last year I was busy playing tournaments,' he said.
'We worked very hard and developed some thoughts. I had several systems prepared with black and white. You always had to start with something new. I knew Gelfand since 1989 and always thought he was very professional and disciplined chess player. Someone who had good understanding of the game. He is someone who embodies the best traditions of Soviet Union chess. I knew he would come up with some of the best preparation and he did,' he added.
Anand said Gelfand was a tough nut to crack and had his own set of innovations.
"Boris was a very complicated opponent. He managed to set all his dominant opening aside and come up with entirely new openings. I had to prepare for all the possible things he could do. He prepared very cleverly. We were continuously playing catch-up during the match," Anand recalled.
'With the white pieces, he managed to steer clear of our dangerous ideas. This reflected how seriously he was taking the match. It was only in game 11 and 12 that we were able to break out a bit,' he said.
Anand also explained the turning points of the match.
'Most of these big matches come down to one or two turning points. If you don't know how to grab them when they come, that's when the success or failure is decided,' he said.
'In game seven, we managed to stumble on one area we had not worked as thoroughly as others. It was most difficult moment of the match, I didn't sleep. I was all very disturbed. At that point I could not tell myself that it was the turning point. But in game eight, I had done a lot of work on the main areas but we didn't neglect other areas. I wasn't completely without weapons at that time,' he added.
Anand said a few changes here and there helped him take Gelfand by surprise.
'I don't know whether I caught him by surprise but he reacted aggressively. I was excited about what was to come. I thought I could put him under pressure. The turning point happened very quickly. He made some wrong moves and I was very happy that I could get back into the match. I cannot emphasise how important this moment was,' Anand said.
'After equalising in the eighth game, I could play the rest of the match in peace,' he added.
Anand said the second turning point of the match came in the tie-break.
'In the first game, for the first time I could get openings from black pieces. I felt suddenly the match was opening up. Game two was very back and forth. I prepared strong ideas but he showed what a great defender he was. However, he lacked in the end and he was also short of time.'
On the role of his second team, Anand said, "Workload in a match is huge. They help you manage workloads. You cannot do it yourself. They allow you to rest during the match. It is for the third time that we are (seconds) together in my team.
We have become a very close-knit unit as a result. What I really find out is very often they will say you need to relax and go and sleep. That gives you certain kind of confidence no matter what they are up to night over.
'Whenever necessary they work in night hours and take the pressure out of me. That gives you lot of support. On the last day, you got to take two seconds with you for the game. They will give me a summary in just half a minute and then I go back in for the game. They can relate what is on the chess board and how you should react.'
Anand also thanked his wife Aruna for taking the load off him mentally.
'We got married in 1996. She has been a huge support to me. When we got married she knew nothing about chess. Subsequently for many years she has played a big role and she takes care of everything else as I just focus on my chess. Also, in moments like the seventh game against Gelfand, you really want morale support and she was there. She has also learnt as to how difficult the world championship matches are. She knows as to when to say something and when not to. Sure, she has been a huge plus for me,' said Anand.
Anand thanked the NIIT for sponsoring him for many years. 'The long association with NIIT stated in April 1999. I am very excited about the growth of the Mind Champion Academy started in 2002. Having these turning point scholarships is something like even in a long match you prepare yourself for many long months. It makes the chance for people to learn the skills necessary in a very unpredictable economy,' he said.
Anand praised the Tamil Nadu government for introducing chess as part of curriculum in schools.
'It's an excellent idea. I had always believed that chess has huge educational benefits as it helps children develop such skills that will be useful in all walks of life not only in chess. I am very proud that Tamil Nadu government has introduced this initiative. I would like to thank the hon'ble Chief Minister Purachathi Thalaivi Jayalaalitha for her support in this regard. She has always done many things for sports and chess. We will see the next generation of chess players emerging from such initiatives,' Anand said.
'We made a good bid for world championship in Chennai. It showed that they had a lot of support from the Tamil Nadu government. Was not to be this time but definitely an event held here will be a huge boost to chess as there will be lot of attention during world championship,' he added.
Asked about any plan of starting an academy, he said, 'I only rely heavily in Mind Champions Academy. That is taking lot of time. Beyond that, I do not know that if I do anything that will happen only after I retire. I have already spoken and said a flat no to retirement. I cannot tell.'
Asked if he was getting enough time for his family life considering his hectic chess schedule, Anand said, 'You have to ask that question to Akhil Anand (his son) and his answer will be very short. I must say that the experience has been fantastic feeling and having a child a whole new experience. Obviously, I missed him a lot during my three months training and during the championship. It would have been ideal if I had spent more time with him. I think it gives you a lot of balance in your life. I think if you attain fatherhood you will experience all that.'
'There are definitely no thoughts of retirement. In fact quite the opposite. (Winning a fifth world title) has been a huge boost to my morale and I really want to play chess. This is something I have enjoyed. As long as I enjoy, I don't see any reason to retire,' Anand said.
'I am still enjoying the game having just defended my title. I am looking forward to playing chess and winning tournaments. I am really happy as you can imagine that I had retained my title this time and this has been my biggest test so far,' he told reporters during a felicitation function organised by his long-time sponsors NIIT here.
The 42-year-old Indian defeated Israeli Boris Gelfand in the World Championship match in Moscow a few days ago to successfully defend his world title.
Asked if there was anything left to prove to his detractors, Anand said, "I do not think I have anything more to prove. Winning in Moscow meant a lot emotionally. It's not only about records. For me when I went to this match I had no idea whether it was fourth or tenth (title).
'It's just that you hate losing and you love winning. For me, the number has been irrelevant. Every title defence is special. I simply want to enjoy playing chess. There is no checklist,' he said.
Anand dismissed the suggestion that he did not defend the world championship title since he had won it on tie-breaker.
'In the 60s, if a world champion drew the match he retained the title without a tie-break. There was a revenge match also as a bonus. In that perspective, the current system is fair and much more legitimate,' he said.
'It's not that we straightaway start with tie-breaks. We played 12 games to spot the winner. I do not see any objection to tie-breaks. It is followed in lot of sports like football, tennis and so on. It mirrors the development in lot of sports. Lot of fans really enjoy tie-breaks in chess.'
Anand also gave a detailed account of his preparations leading up to the match and the turning points during it.
'My training was from Jan 15 to April 15. This time my preparation was very intensive because I did not have a camp. Last year I was busy playing tournaments,' he said.
'We worked very hard and developed some thoughts. I had several systems prepared with black and white. You always had to start with something new. I knew Gelfand since 1989 and always thought he was very professional and disciplined chess player. Someone who had good understanding of the game. He is someone who embodies the best traditions of Soviet Union chess. I knew he would come up with some of the best preparation and he did,' he added.
Anand said Gelfand was a tough nut to crack and had his own set of innovations.
"Boris was a very complicated opponent. He managed to set all his dominant opening aside and come up with entirely new openings. I had to prepare for all the possible things he could do. He prepared very cleverly. We were continuously playing catch-up during the match," Anand recalled.
'With the white pieces, he managed to steer clear of our dangerous ideas. This reflected how seriously he was taking the match. It was only in game 11 and 12 that we were able to break out a bit,' he said.
Anand also explained the turning points of the match.
'Most of these big matches come down to one or two turning points. If you don't know how to grab them when they come, that's when the success or failure is decided,' he said.
'In game seven, we managed to stumble on one area we had not worked as thoroughly as others. It was most difficult moment of the match, I didn't sleep. I was all very disturbed. At that point I could not tell myself that it was the turning point. But in game eight, I had done a lot of work on the main areas but we didn't neglect other areas. I wasn't completely without weapons at that time,' he added.
Anand said a few changes here and there helped him take Gelfand by surprise.
'I don't know whether I caught him by surprise but he reacted aggressively. I was excited about what was to come. I thought I could put him under pressure. The turning point happened very quickly. He made some wrong moves and I was very happy that I could get back into the match. I cannot emphasise how important this moment was,' Anand said.
'After equalising in the eighth game, I could play the rest of the match in peace,' he added.
Anand said the second turning point of the match came in the tie-break.
'In the first game, for the first time I could get openings from black pieces. I felt suddenly the match was opening up. Game two was very back and forth. I prepared strong ideas but he showed what a great defender he was. However, he lacked in the end and he was also short of time.'
On the role of his second team, Anand said, "Workload in a match is huge. They help you manage workloads. You cannot do it yourself. They allow you to rest during the match. It is for the third time that we are (seconds) together in my team.
We have become a very close-knit unit as a result. What I really find out is very often they will say you need to relax and go and sleep. That gives you certain kind of confidence no matter what they are up to night over.
'Whenever necessary they work in night hours and take the pressure out of me. That gives you lot of support. On the last day, you got to take two seconds with you for the game. They will give me a summary in just half a minute and then I go back in for the game. They can relate what is on the chess board and how you should react.'
Anand also thanked his wife Aruna for taking the load off him mentally.
'We got married in 1996. She has been a huge support to me. When we got married she knew nothing about chess. Subsequently for many years she has played a big role and she takes care of everything else as I just focus on my chess. Also, in moments like the seventh game against Gelfand, you really want morale support and she was there. She has also learnt as to how difficult the world championship matches are. She knows as to when to say something and when not to. Sure, she has been a huge plus for me,' said Anand.
Anand thanked the NIIT for sponsoring him for many years. 'The long association with NIIT stated in April 1999. I am very excited about the growth of the Mind Champion Academy started in 2002. Having these turning point scholarships is something like even in a long match you prepare yourself for many long months. It makes the chance for people to learn the skills necessary in a very unpredictable economy,' he said.
Anand praised the Tamil Nadu government for introducing chess as part of curriculum in schools.
'It's an excellent idea. I had always believed that chess has huge educational benefits as it helps children develop such skills that will be useful in all walks of life not only in chess. I am very proud that Tamil Nadu government has introduced this initiative. I would like to thank the hon'ble Chief Minister Purachathi Thalaivi Jayalaalitha for her support in this regard. She has always done many things for sports and chess. We will see the next generation of chess players emerging from such initiatives,' Anand said.
'We made a good bid for world championship in Chennai. It showed that they had a lot of support from the Tamil Nadu government. Was not to be this time but definitely an event held here will be a huge boost to chess as there will be lot of attention during world championship,' he added.
Asked about any plan of starting an academy, he said, 'I only rely heavily in Mind Champions Academy. That is taking lot of time. Beyond that, I do not know that if I do anything that will happen only after I retire. I have already spoken and said a flat no to retirement. I cannot tell.'
Asked if he was getting enough time for his family life considering his hectic chess schedule, Anand said, 'You have to ask that question to Akhil Anand (his son) and his answer will be very short. I must say that the experience has been fantastic feeling and having a child a whole new experience. Obviously, I missed him a lot during my three months training and during the championship. It would have been ideal if I had spent more time with him. I think it gives you a lot of balance in your life. I think if you attain fatherhood you will experience all that.'
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