Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand says that his best is yet to come after what he terms as a very productive 2014 during which he won three titles, the latest one being the London Chess Classic last week.
During an interaction on the sidelines of the NIIT Nguru Maths Plus promotional event in Hyderabad on Friday, Anand said he was quite happy with the year gone by.
“It is important to keep moving ahead and not just ponder about what has happened. Yes, I prefer to take it event by event or else you will get stuck somewhere down the line,” says Anand, who lost to Magnus Carlsen in the world championship final last month.
How difficult is it to keep yourself motivated after such a loss? “There is no other way but to put behind those things (defeats) and plan afresh for the big events which are lined up — like those coming next February,” he pointed out.
“I think the Candidates cycle is too far away right now to think of. Let me focus on the events which are scheduled before that. Yes, I am glad that I won the London Chess Classic, though it was a short, five-game event. But it was very exciting and interesting given the scoring format, as no one was sure of winning the title till the last round was over,” he said.
“Yes, it is frustrating to play every year in the world championship cycle. I am glad that it is being switched to every two years now,” Anand added.
Different generations
Asked to rate Carlsen, he said: “I don’t want to make any comparison between Carlsen and Garry Kasparov, for they belong to different generations.”
Several years ago, Anand had tipped Koneru Humpy and P. Harikrishna as potential world champions. What is his take on them now? “Well, Humpy has some chances having made it to the world championship cycle last time also. I hope she will make it again.
“Harikrishna has cracked the ELO 2700-plus category and is capable of achieving bigger results soon,” he pointed out.
Reflecting, in general, about coaching patterns and choosing former greats as ‘seconds’, Anand says that there are no more geographical barriers in chess coaching because of the technological advances.
“It all boils down to whom you are comfortable with in training. He need not be someone from abroad. But definitely, the preparations have to be really good nowadays because of the availability of games online for many contenders,” says Anand.
