Anand has become mentally old and there’s no spark in the champion’s play: Nigel Short
Wednesday, 06 June 2012 10:42
Englishman Nigel Short, who challenged Garry Kasparov for the world title in 1993, tells The DNA that there is no spark in Viswanathan Anand’s play and that the world chess championship was disappointing. “There was very cautious and very conservative chess. As a spectacle, it was hugely disappointing,” said Short, adding that a lot of games ended prematurely.
“I understand their primary concern was to win but they were not creating entertainment. You would think, normally, if two people were going at each other hammer and tongs, you would get a bit more action. It was not the case. In one website, the fans were asked what they thought of the match and two-thirds of them said it was boring or very boring. People who love the game were disappointed,” said Short, adding that Anand has become mentally old and this showed in his approach.
“Unlike a lot of people, I didn’t think he was an overwhelming favourite. I expected it to be a lot closer. I still had Anand as the favourite. I thought he had two-thirds chance and Gelfand one-third. It turned out reasonably accurate. Gelfand came pretty close to winning it, although he was written off by a large number of people. It is not that Anand should have crushed Gelfand but there was complete lack of spark in his play. Everything was safety-first. He played middle-age chess.”
Meanwhile, whatever the Englishman thinks of Anand, his triumph back home has enthused in a new spirit into the game. The All India Chess Federation has decided to promote the game by increasing the prize money of many tournaments besides introducing new events, says a report in the Indian Express.
“The AICF will spend Rs 50 lakh more on prize money starting this year. The cash awards to medal winners in Asian and World Championships have been doubled with immediate effect and the National Premier Championships will have a bigger prize purse from next year. The AICF will contribute Rs six lakh while the organizing association will have to ensure the remaining Rs 4 lakh to make it a million rupees championship. In the women’s tournament, the AICF will contribute Rs 3.5 lakh to the existing 2.5 lakh to make it a Rs six lakh prize money event,” says the report.
Another report in The Hindu, the format of National Premier Championships will also be changed from next year. It will be an elite event with only 14 players participating instead of the present 45. The general body also gave its nod for India to stage eight international open tournaments in a year. The first four events are the Parsvnath in Delhi, Chennai Open, Odisha Open and the Mayors Cup in Mumbai. The next four will be in Nagpur, Pune, Gurgaon and Andhra Pradesh.
Revealing the various decisions taken at the meeting, a press release from AICF stated that increased prize money for national championship would be substantial. For example, for under-7 events it would be raised to Rs. 1.5 lakh from the present Rs. 75,000.
As for GM events, it was decided that the AICF would fund Rs. 20 lakh towards prize money — Rs. 12 lakh for men and Rs. 8 lakh for women.
The national championships would have two new events — the national school team chess championship and a national amateur chess championship for players below 2000 Elo rating.
Source: http://www.indiansportsnews.com
Nosher commenting and the cheerleader spragett parroting. Give Nigel a decade and he would not come up with Qf2 in game 8. Atleast he/anand is a champion – 5 times over, not like Andy Murray who is not and the brits go gaga over.
Sorry guys, ever won 1M in prize money. Piggybank chess players dont understand what WC is all about. Spragett near ones must have lost his/her job to India. Man he is mad. Improving skills is a better option. Nigel i do appreciate your record – the steepest drop from top 10. BTW why do you get invited to london classic – oh, the brit quota
In the interview, Nigel Short said that “I don’t mean to be rude, but … “. Well, Short was rude, and he should have kept his mouth tightly shut. Kasparov also should have been keeping his mouth shut lately on the subject of Anand’s play. This pandering by grandmasters to chess yellow journalism is regrettable.
Short, like Kasparov is entitled to his comments. Anand and Gelfand were just doing what they had to do. A lot was at stake and flashy,entertaining play by one side,perhaps entailed risk,that none was willing to take. We all know what happened to Boris when he tried to stomp Anand in game eight in order to finish him off once and for all!!. I bet Gelfand rues that game!.Perhaps such one on one matches by equally matched players with a whole lot at stake,might end up the same way?
2I do love the way the Kasparov groupies are coming out of the woodwork — Kevin Spraggett in particular — a has been if ever there was — his blog is not fit for human eyes with its garbage (and I am not referring to his commentary which is more of the same). I respect Nigel Short’s commentary —
no one is questioning Anand’s loss of form but the fact is he won inspite of being down on form.
THis last win by Anand is the hallmark of a champion. We see this in other sports — tennis, golf, basketball etc.In tennis we see a person like Federer — clearly not the player he was 4 years ago but he is still out there fighting for his umpteenth semi-final appearance in a grand slam.
We teach our kids that one must learn from failure. what did we learn about Kasparov — he quit/retired once he lost — instead of fighting it out. On his day an absolute brilliant tactician and one of the best players in the history of the sport but he is not a champion in the true sense of the word — he lacks character and as we often say in England — bottom.
Finally, it almost seems like it was Gelfand’s fault for winning the candidates tournament over Aronian and Kramnik (among others). Carlsen did not play — but we really do not know much about Carlsen in match play. As a tournament player he is no doubt
excellent and is the odds on favorite for the next cycle given FIDE’s switch.
Finally, lets also not forget Gelfand was tied for second at a previous world championship tournament. He is a difficult opponent in match play.
short challenge of garry in 1993 was an anomaly..that was the first and last time he ever sat in the hot seat. He was propped up in this effort by speelman, nunn and the best english players.. but there is a english saying ‘ you can take nigel to the water but cannot make it drink’
Short wants to be in the limelight. His chess is pathetic for that.. So such type of comments, incidents – the handshake, the chat brawl with gata etc.. Problem guys like gata etc have become gentlemen but flash in the pans like nigel and also-ran spragetts bark a lot without having the chess bite. BTW both of them put money on gelfand.. Nothing wrong with that.. except it was more of contempt for anand than the support for gelfand. Gelfand is not complaining, fide is not complaining and new sponsors are coming…for top class chess, not the variety kevin is playing
so Short is getting knocked now for saying the emperor has no clothes. face it, Nigel speaks for 2 out of 3 if they will admit it or not. although I expect it to be ‘moderated’, my opinion, low T.
Remember Gelfand came through the qualifiers that included ALL top players save Carlsen. It’s not Gelfand’s fault that he had more grit, determination (& luck) than his peers.
As for Anand, his performance level generally responds to the match situation:
2008 (Kramnik) – Anand had something to prove, never having won a WC in match format. Moreover, Kramnik had issuing veiled taunts at Anand before the match. This match was basically over inside 6 games, Anand winning beautifully in games 3,5 & 6. Over the 11 games, just under 30 moves per game.
2010 (Topalov) – a hostile match in hostile conditions. First match with >50 moves per game on average. Anand lost the 1st game due to error in move order, but won games 2, 4 (a sparkling sacrificial K-side attack) & 12.
2012 (Gelfand) – Since birth of his son in 2011, Anand had been off-color in tournament play. And for the 1st time, Anand was out-prepared by opponent. Both parties were not averse to quick draws when out of prep. On average, only 24 moves / game (excl. tiebreaks).
nigel speaks no credibility. Let the more objective players like kramnik, svidler , moro, grischuk speak. nigel give up your place in LCC for a talented brit.. Did not nunn, miles and speelman went out of their way to prop u up..
nigel did not consider anand a favorite.. he says 2/3 favorite. if gelfand is just 33% favorite, nigel u dont know your math too..hahaha. Dont open your mouth and show how stupid you can be.
short is clearly short of ideas…short of understanding what he is talking about….what are his credentials?….understandable, he needs some attention when no body bothers about short… anand is 1000 times better than the biggest short…it is insult to anand, if short is compared with the great anand…let him play a game with anand, it will not go beyound the ‘short’..!!!
short is clearly short of ideas…short of understanding what he is talking about….what are his credentials?….understandable, he needs some attention when no body bothers about short… anand is 1000 times better than the biggest short…it is insult to anand, if short is compared with the great anand…let him play a game with anand, it will not go beyound the ‘short’..!!!
short is clearly short of ideas…short of understanding what he is talking about….what are his credentials?….understandable, he needs some attention when no body bothers about short… anand is 1000 times better than the biggest short…it is insult to anand, if short is compared with the great anand…let him play a game with anand, it will not go beyound the ‘short’..!!!
Short seemed to call it fairly accurately. It was a pathetic match, with no real entertainment. Yes, the players had a match to win, but does anyone want to see that type of chess (and more importantly sponsor it?)
Short’s run in the early 90’s was fairly impressive, beating Gelfand, Timman (best in the west) and a still at-the-top Karpov. Unlike most of the guys that have posted here 😉