Write Comment     |     E-Mail To a Friend     |     Facebook     |     Twitter     |     Print

Viswanathan Anand, never known to court controversy, raised eyebrows when he signed up for Ground Chess Tour, considered a breakaway league headed by Garry Kasparov. But the Indian Grandmaster (who played an exhibition match against Bollywood star Aamir Khan) said he looked at the event as any normal chess tournament. "There is no indication of where the league is supposed to lead to. I have already been playing the London tournament for many years and the city has joined a new circuit of three tournaments. I am playing three good tournaments. I don’t’ see any other angle. Fide (World Chess Federation) did not block the individual tournaments, why should they block this?" Anand told Mirror.

Anand has been in good form of late, having crossed 2800 in Elo rating and scaled to No 2 in the ranking. "I have been missing 2800 for some time. I have been like a pendulum, going up and swinging back. I am happy that I have crossed 2804," the five-time world champion said.

Anand, however, has recognised the gulf between him and World No 1 and champion Magnus Carlsen who has a staggering rating of 2876. "That is a huge number for Carlsen, it is impressive. But he has to score one point more than me in every tournament. That will be a challenge."

Anand could meet Carlsen if he wins the next year’s Candidates tournament but he is not thinking that far as yet. "I will play in this new circuit in Norway, US and London. I hope to play some other events till January by when I hope to know about the Candidates. At this stage, I am not thinking about the match (vs Carlsen), I still have to qualify." Anand is 45 but says he has not lost the hunger for success. "I am 45, nothing I can do about that. I enjoy chess as much as I did before." Anand, who is the brand ambassador of IPL-style Maharashtra Chess league, said such events are good for the game. "This can be the beginning of something positive," he said.