Bring on Kasparov says Anand
Vijay Tagore
Friday, October 31, 2008 03:00 IST
Vishy Anand is surprised that it turned out to be a one-sided world championship. Minutes after drawing the 11th game with Vladimir Kramnik, thus retaining the title, the Indian Grandmaster spoke to Vijay Tagore. Excerpts:
What did you do right?
I took some risks. It was a gamble which paid off handsomely. I knew he would work on my 1. e4 (King pawn opening). I decided to go for 1.d4 (Queen pawn). All his preparation on e4 was wasted. I don’t think it was a surprise for him because he prepared for d4 too. But I could still put some pressure on him with Queen pawn. The other thing was I prepared some sharp and interesting stuff with black pieces. It was a fantastic concept. I could post two convincing wins with blacks. It paid off big time.
Were you surprised that the match was one-sided?
Yes. Kramnik never lost three games in a row.
How much of an effort was it to win the world title?
It drains you. It took a lot of effort and energy. I can tell you the last three days have been very intense. I could have finished the game three days before. In fact, the last half point took me as much effort as the first six points. I had to think of the 10th game defeat one whole day. It was a slow boil. It was a huge relief when Kramnik offered me the draw today.
Did the 10th game loss remind you off Sanghinagar?
Not really though I should admit that at some stage it certainly crossed my mind. The things were different. I had a three-point advantage and I was sitting pretty.
Which was the most satisfying win?
I won the 3rd and 5th games with black pieces. Even my win on 6th game with whites was very satisfying but nothing can compare the satisfaction of today’s draw. It was the most satisfying moment.
What was the turning point?
The three-point lead has to be the turning point. To be more precise, I think the second win (on Game 5) was a kind of turning point.
You have out-prepared Kramnik? Right?
I think so. It took us a lot of preparation. We were able to control the direction of the match. Particularly in the first half. In the second half, he definitely caught up and put a lot of pressure.
Kramnik said a few nasty things before the match. Did that fire you?
Well, you can imagine what all stuff I would have had to listen to if I had lost the match. When you see such things, it has to give some extra motivation. I’m happy that I will not have to listen to such things any more.
You lost badly in Bilbao just before Bonn match. Did you hold back your cards there?
It was disappointing but I knew I would not be able to focus completely. I was not holding back my cards but I was not able to play the 1.d4 move. In the scheme of things I could put aside that disappointment.
You think you have answered your critics, particularly from Russia, who say you can’t win matches?
Yeah. I think I will not have to listen to such stuff any more. This result will take care of that.
You have won in all formats — rapid, knockout and match. You agree that there is no player more complete than you?
I personally see no fault with any format. But having won in all formats, I can put forth the claim to be the complete player.
Are you thinking of Topalov or Kamsky?
Right now I’m only thinking of celebrating.
Will you demand for a rematch privilege which has been given to past champions?
I don’t think I will do that ever. But I have not really thought about it. At the moment I’m too exhausted to think of such things.
Why were you both dope-tested after the match?
It was not necessary but it was a rule set up by the Fide and we have to follow the regulation. It was some kind of electronic testing.
Who do you give credit to for this win?
A lot of people. My family and especially my wife Aruna who has been working like crazy. The whole year she has been doing all the negotiations and dealings. Then my team — Peter Heine Nielsen, Rustam Kasimdzhanov, Radoslaw Wojtaszek, Surya Shekhar Ganguly. These guys had done a fantastic job. While I was sleeping, these guys were working till 6 and 7 in the morning.
You have beaten everyone except Kasparov. Regrets?
It will be great if he changes his mind and comes out of the retirement. I will definitely give it a shot. It will be very exciting to play him again.
Are you too exhausted for the Olympiad?
I’m definitely not playing the Olympiad. After all this work I’m too tired and exhausted.
You have won everything. Is the fire still left in the belly?
It is still there. But I will think about it later. Right now my mind is working on other things.
Finally, what’s Vishy Anand’s legacy to chess?
I don’t know. I’m not thinking about that yet. Today we’re in a celebratory mood.
Source: http://www.dnaindia.com/
Good interview, but the reporter has done Anand a disservice with a headline that implies that he now wants to challenge Kasparov…
Can the media ever interpret a statement as it is meant? Probably never.
What does it mean “You have beaten everyone except Kasparov?”
If they’re talking about individual games, then yes, he’s beaten Kasparov too.
If they’re talking about matches, then, to the contrary, he’s beaten NO ONE but Kramnik.
If they’re talking about head to head record, is it really true? He hasn’t beaten Kramnik, for example, their lifetime head-to-head record in Classical games is +6-6=48.
Looks like Anand didn’t even try to figure out what the heck he was talking about, and just talked around it.
“If they’re talking about matches, then, to the contrary, he’s beaten NO ONE but Kramnik.”
Thats incorrect. He has won over Kamsky and Karpov in candidate matches. (also lost at other times to the same people).
Only matches he has lost are to Kamsky and Kasparov. But Kamsky he has beaten at another occasion. But no such occasion came with Kasparov. And hence the question. The reporter of course, made a mess of what of the interpretation of what Anand said.
Well said. Yes I like to see a match between Kasparov and Anand.
Should be an interesting one.
But given that Kasparov has not played for many years, I doubt if
he wants to come out of retirement
just to chalenge Anand.
Anand didn’t say ‘Bring on Kasparov’, he basically stated that he would play him! This can be misinterpreted!
Anand closed the lid on the toilet.
Please pause for a moment of silence. The age of toilet gate has ended.
hahahaahahaaahaahhhaahahaahahaa
This isn’t to knock Anand, since there’s nothing he can do about it…but for him to win in the post-Kasparov era is kinda like Padraig Harrington wining major golf titles this year while Tiger was gone. Impressive, but….
Don’t forget Anand has very bad records against Kasparov.
Now time changes and chess today is basically computer dominated. If one plays better in a match, it means he prepares better with computer.
Am I right?
‘hahahaahahaaahaahhhaahahaahahaa’
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.
Don’t forget Anand has very bad records against Kasparov.
Now time changes and chess today is basically computer dominated. If one plays better in a match, it means he prepares better with computer.
Am I right?
Not really. Times, champions, people change. This is all kind of similar trying to figure out who is the “best ever”. There is no such thing, because it is not possible to compare people in different times, no matter how hard other people try, no matter how fair the attempted methods are. When Kasparov defeated Anand, Kasparov was the best. But just as in other sports and activities, people do decline, just as Kasparov declined and got defeated by Kramnik (in such a way, that he couldn’t even win one game against Kramnik). Now Anand defeated Kramnik.
We can shuffle this deck of cards as long as we wish, we can never draw any conclusion, as for presently who would be better, Kasparov or Anand. Old scores don’t count. Especially those from many years ago. Today Anand seems to be the best chess player in the world. Could Bobby Fischer in his prime defeat Anand? Who knows? It never took place, it never will take place. Would Kasparov defeat Anand today. Similarly, we just don’t know.
I am willing to bet that Kasparov will not come out of retirement just to play Anand. He can only lose on that. This way he is still a legend. Even if he would come out of retirement and play Anand and beat Anand, the question would still remain:”yeah….but can he beat Kramnik?”
So you see, this is a never ending story, as long as people are willing to spin these wheels out there. But there is no point really. I am willing to celebrate Anand as the best in the world today. Despite that a bunch of imaginary games never took place.
I’d stake my life that Kasparov will come out of retirement to play Anand, especially if someone dangles a million bucks in front of his nose. No doubt. He’s shot his wad in politics. What else is he gonna do with his time?