There is something about Garry Kasparov, who ruled the chess world like nobody else ever did.
He was very much the man of the moment at the World championship here on Tuesday. The former World champion, who was the world’s best player for some 20 years, had reached here on Monday evening and watched the third game; he was escorted by the All India Chess Federation (AICF) officials to the venue.
Journalists were eager to get quotes from him, despite the fact that he had had a press conference on Monday. There were fans who came to the venue just to see him. And he charmed them all.
Chess players, such as former World Under-18 champion Aarthie Ramaswamy, were excited to see him in person. “I am an admirer of his game,” she said.
Kasparov was very much a topic for discussion at the press meet of Anand and Carlsen that followed Game Three. Questions were asked to both players.
In the morning, Kasparov talked to the Norwegian press.
“We asked him mainly about Magnus of course,” said Mads Stoestad of NRK.
“He said the only thing that would stop Magnus here would be a nervous breakdown like the one he had towards the end of the Candidates tournament in London.”
