Terming his fifth World Championship title as the most difficult one to achieve, chess wizard Viswanathan Anand on Saturday admitted that veteran Russian player Garry Kasparov’s mind games did affect him during his title defence in Moscow in May.
“Normally I try not to read newspapers or websites on chess precisely for this reason. You might be affected by some comment or other. Unfortunately, in press conferences, you are asked pointed questions and then you try to find about things you tried not to read about. Still I think you try not to lose sight,” Anand said.
“It is important to know the main opponent is (Boris) Gelfand and not Kasparov. It is important to focus on the match...but this time it was there in the background and it was impossible to shut it out,” said the five-time world champion.
Former world champion Kasparov controversially remarked during the tournament that Anand should have retired from the game like he himself had done and that the Indian had lost motivation and had slid downhill over the last few years.
After clinching the crown, the Indian ace had retorted that Kasparov was regretting his retirement from the game.
“We were asked about his remarks. He is the man who regrets leaving chess. He misses the attention he got in chess; somehow he wants to be there. May be he should play again,” Anand had said on his return home in June.
“The match against (Vladmir) Kramnik finished in 11 games. The match against (Veselin) Topalov finished in 12 games. Against, Gelfand it went past 12 games.
“The intensity was higher, otherwise most matches are similar. I would say this was my most difficult one as it went all the way to the tiebreaks,” Anand observed.
Keywords: Chess, Viswanathan Anand, Garry Kasparov
What Mr. Sathya has commented on is indeed correct. We have to deal
with so many variables to accomplish even mundane tasks that trains us
to cope with crises in the workplace or for that matter, in any field,
in a better way. I have seen managers, from first world countries,
fall apart when confronted with situations that we face on a routine
basis. On the flip side, is the fact that sometimes we get afraid of
our own success, our dreams and aspirations get less audacious as if
some some self limiting control mechanism is at work somewhere. Having
said this, one should celebrate Mr. Anand's success : a true example
of Sthithaprajna Lakshana (judging from the circumstances of his win).
Apart from The Hindu, I seldom see any mainstream media channel
(including the self appointed champion of morals and civic freedom in
the society)devoting the required space & time to his achievement. Is
this not 'masaladar' or 'inspiring' enough for 'public' consumption ?
Most egoistic, bloated headed, loud mouth is kasparov; he had just one thing going for him and that was chess and got his half an hour of fame from the sport, that's about all. After that he was an utter total failure in Russian politics where expereinced Putin and others knocked him around like a punching bag and now this - trying to be so called expert on world chess championship and trying to predict the outcome which was another utter total failure like his political debacle. Why don't these egoistic bloated headed people like kasparov just go away and hide in some cave instead making total fool of themselves after their sports career is over with. Just because he was lucky to do well in chess these selfish kasparov thinks he is an expert in everything which he is absolutely NOT. I would tell him go fly a kite.
In re Sathya's comment above: beautifully said! It is true of all humans, although I will accept your pointing this out of the Indian psyche in particular. I'll also add that it is that ability to turn inward, and ask the toughest questions of ourselves within our own space, time and mind, not just looking out, at 'everything around us.' Nevertheless, you captured the gist. And, yes, Anand does exemplify some of the what does matter in the long run -- class and ethics. Om.
Kaspaarov's comments sounded like the proverbial fox's remarks about sour grapes. Kasparov had been the strongest player of his times, but had been dethroned by a cabal of Russian players. That experience let him understandably bitter with his peers. He never came back, but his childish remarks indicate how much he misses the spotlight of chess championship. Perhaps, Kasparov should let hid formidable chess skills do the talking, they are still formidable and more vocal than his mouth
One big advantage of Indians and people from other developing countries is their
resilience. It comes from the family and social environment we grow up. Hardships
that people witness around them or experience could also make them strong
mentally. Anand is a great example of Indian psyche and how everything around us
can determine our inner strength.
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