Ageless Anand: How the chess legend is competing with players one-third his age

‘I am able to interact with the new generation of players very easily’

Candid: Viswanathan Anand, right, admitted to being “outplayed by R. Praggnanandhaa out of the opening,” before rallying well to emerge victorious. Special Arrangement

More than a decade ago when Magnus Carlsen was making waves as a pre-teen sensation, during one of our conversations, Viswanathan Anand mentioned that the Norwegian talent was only continuing a trend of young talents taking on veterans thrice their age.

“You remember, when I came on the international scene, I was a third of Viktor Korchnoi’s age. Today, Magnus is a third of my age,” was how Anand made his point.

 

Closer look

In fact, a closer look at the composition of the field in the on-going Tata Steel chess reinforces Anand’s observation.

“Did you notice that Vidit (Gujrati), at 24, is half your age. And R. Praggnanandhaa (13) is around half of Vidit’s age?”

“I didn’t realise that,” responded Anand looking a bit surprised but went on, “Yes. Now that you mentioned it, it does make me look old. But I am able to interact with this new generation of players very easily.

“Among the players here, Levon (Aronian) considers himself of my generation. But the truth is, he is much younger,” said Anand.

Last month, Aronian turned 36 and next month, Anand completes 49.

The 13 years, separating the two oldest players in the fray, matches the age Praggnanandhaa, the youngest competitor.

The rest of the participants here are somewhere in between.