Interview with Anand during Tal Memorial
Anand speaks for Radio Mayak
Presented by Chessdom.com
How do you find the Tal Memorial
Viswanathan Anand: Generally, the composition of the tournament is impressive. Incredibly strong composition. I am sure this tournament will be remembered in the chess history, I have not seen so many strong grandmasters gathered in one place. I am expecting a difficult struggle literarly in every game. I believe this is the strongest tournament of the year.
The Russian chess school, how to explain the recent failures?
Viswanathan Anand: No, I think that Russia is still one of the strongest chess powers on the planet, I am certain of this. It is just that now learning chess has become easier for people from around the world and therefore it is easier to compete against Russians. But I think that at the last European Team Championship Russians were simply unlucky – they couldn’t win the last win and took only silver medal. I am sure that your country is still one of the best, although now there is no domination of Russian players.
About world championship cycle?
Viswanathan Anand: Well, actually I played with various systems, in matches and tournaments, and it is not easy to form an opinion. Probably it is better to have matches, although, perhaps, there is no fundamental difference. I think that it is very important that the chess world is finally united and that there is only one world champion. It is very important because earlier we didn’t have single answer to the question – who is world chess champion. This was great obstacle for the promotion of the sport and for finding sponsors, and it even hampered organization of tournaments and other events. So the most important thing is that chess world is united.
On the inclusion of chess into the Olympic family?
Viswanathan Anand: Yes, that would be great, if possible, of course. Because in many countries an Olympic sport receives much more in funding. But in many places chess is not considered to be sport, and this is another obstacle before we are ready for the Olympic appearance.
Frankly, I don’t know which stage was reached in the talks with the International Olympic Committee. I think it would be great if chess could join the Olympic family.
Your future plans
Viswanathan Anand: After Tal Memorial I will play in the blitz tournament, then go to India. And then I don’t know, I’ll go on vacation. But in any case, going home to native people is always a pleasure, already that is a holiday for me.
Author – Elmira Mirzoeva. Full interview (Russian language)
Anand is best. Indians are best.
Here is the balance part of the interview,Translated into English.
05.11.2009 23:05 “Sports Channel”
On the chess tournament in memory of Mikhail Tal
Guest: Viswanathan Anand – 15 th World Chess Champion
World chess champion Viswanathan Anand was the guest of “Sports channel” on Thursday, November 5. To talk with him Elmira Mirzoyev.
– As often happens in Russia?
Anand: I first came to Russia in 1986, and in general in your country was just 15, maybe more. Frankly, I can not say that traveling to your country. Always arrive in Moscow, though they do it often enough.
– You are not tired of being second to Karpov, Kasparov, Kramnik?
Anand: I actually took a lot of cycles of the world championship, and it is really hard. I remember the first time I lost in the quarterfinals, giving Karpov. Then I was amazed how much had been close to victory, but I could not reach it. Then there were ups and downs.
First time I won the world title in 2000. But the chess world was then divided. When I lost the title, this is perhaps sound strange, I do for a long time there was no match, so I was again able to fight for him. And then there was San Luis. In fact, there is a strange feeling that the time was coming, and so are you going and going. But generations change, come new and young, they’re harder and harder to fight. It was a difficult period, but then came Mexico, where the tournament was held for the championship of the world, and I managed to win. The victory in Mexico, you might say, gave me a second wind. After this triumph was already very pleased to win and the match in Bonn.
But really we can say that I have seen several generations of Russian players. I have played with Polugaevsky and Geller. And of course, with all those who are younger – Kramnik, Svidler. But, of course, most of my life I spent with the great “K”: Karpov, Kasparov and Kramnik. Yes, because if you remember that with each of them, I played about a hundred parties, not less.
– On the computer prompts.
Anand: Computer tips – their main threat is when they occur. And another problem when tips are not taking place, but others have the feeling that they are used – these are two different situations. Because it is often precisely the second option, that is, someone may seem that the opponent uses a computer, and then everything changes: the atmosphere at the tournament, people’s attitudes. But the majority of big tournaments we still trust each other, that is, I trust and I trust that we’re playing ourselves. But anyway, I think that the control needed. So, I think, the correct decision is made about mobile phones. Now if they call, then immediately put the defeat. And not only that – because the sound can be disabled, but still can come SMS with the course, so you need to come to the party without the phone.
– Do I need to make special rules of FIDE?
Anand: Yes, they have already adopted, is just off the phone. It was and is aimed at combating the use of prompts. But I think it is much harder to catch a man’s hand when he uses the tips than to invent a punishment. That is, I want to say that, say, someone was caught, and FIDE can not climb. Because this dishonest people will feel the changed attitude. Most colleagues will avoid contact with that player, and he himself was in general no longer invited to tournaments. So the player has to think twice before taking such a responsible step, as the use of prompts. But I believe that computer tips are not the main problem of the chess world, and do not have to because of this, go crazy. Yes, indeed, several such cases have been, and it is understandable that people are nervous. But I think the importance of this problem can be overstated.
Translated by Yours truly,
Jagadish Dube.
Also posted to Chessdom forums,
on 7th November 2009,3.15 PM. IST.
http://forums.chessdom.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=489