Team Carlsen ready to take on Anand
Nov 04, 2013
Anand’s challenger is all geared up to play for his maiden world title, says Carlsen’s manager
DC/ S Sujatha
Chennai: Team Carlsen is ready to take on the five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand in the Indian GM’s hometown, Chennai. Magnus Carlsen’s manager Espen Agdestein, who arrived in the city a day earlier than the world no.1, told Deccan Chronicle that Anand’s challenger is all geared up to play for his maiden world title.
“Carlsen is focused on the championship and he will reach Chennai on Monday, straight from his training base. He is in good shape and we are trying to do our best to keep him well. We only hope things go according to plan before the match starts. But then, there is always a chance for unexpected things to happen,“ said Agdestein.
Carlsen, who will be arriving with his parents -Henrik and Sigrun -and three sisters: Ellen, Ingrid and Signe, is expected to go straight to an undisclosed location instead of reaching Hyatt Regency, which will be his home until November 28, the last day of the championship. “If weather holds good, then he may spend a couple of days at a resort before coming over here,” said Agdestein.
According to Agdestein, Carlsen would spend his off days at the resort instead of staying at the venue for the whole duration of the match. “His family would go around the city to get a feel ofIndia. His mother and sisters might leave after a week or so, while Henrik would stay until the end,” he added.The manager said that the world no. 1 would eat the food prepared at Hyatt Regency, the venue of the match. “Carlsen is going to eat Indian food. He loved the spicy food during his inspection trip in August. He has decided to eat from Indian, Chinese and Italian restaurants at the hotel instead of our chef cooking a special meal for him,” said Agdestein.
However, Carlsen’s chef Magnus Forssell is already at Hyatt to make sure that the Norwegian’s gastronomic needs are taken care of. “Food is excellent here. But then, it is a different bacterial environment here and so we need to be careful. So, it will be the chef ’s job to keep Carlsen healthy. He will mainly give advice to Carlsen and be supportive,” said Agdestein.
On a recent story that appeared in the Indian media about Carlsen and his hypnotic powers, Agdestein said that it was not a common opinion and that only former world championship challenger Victor Korchnoi has said so in an interview. “Korchnoi is the only one with that opinion,” said Agdestein.
“Korchnoi actually wore some glasses when he played Anatoly Karpov in 1978. But I don’t have any comment on that,” he added. When asked about GM Hikaru Nakamura wearing sunglasses against Carlsen at a tournament in the US recently, Agdestein quipped without batting an eyelid: “Maybe Anand will also wear glasses.”
Vishy checks in at the hotel to prepare for an epic duel
DC/ S Suajtha
Deepavali, the festival of lights, is over now. But Hyatt Regency on Anna Salai is still bustling with festive fervour as only five days remain before the first game between Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen of Norway in the world chess championship gets underway in its ballroom.
While the security has been beefed up at the venue with the hotel’s minders keeping a watch on every entrant, the 434 square metre pillar-free ballroom on the ground floor is now being spruced up to the requirements of the big match.
A soundproof glass enclosure for the players is being readied. “It will be a 35×15 feet glass partition which is 11 feet tall, “said an executive from Build Craft, which is handling the interiors at the playing hall. The ballroom would also be elevated by one foot from its current height to give a distinct look compared to the pre-function area outside.
The players would reach the hall using service elevators and would have a separate enclosed area for relaxation and refreshments. They would also have separate washrooms.
While the Tiger from Madras, along with his wife, already checked into the hotel on Friday night, the Norwegian prodigy is expected to reach the city on Monday and check in by Wednesday.
“Anand is not new to Hyatt. He has been to our hotel on a few other occasions. We hope he feels at home,” said a Hyatt hotel executive, who added that the defending champion is staying on the top-most 10th floor.
On the other hand, Carlsen has booked the entire sixth floor for his entourage. His manager Espen Agdestein and chef Magnus Forssell have already reached the venue and were busy checking out the restaurants on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the hotel guests are getting curious as D-Day nears. “I know that the world match is going to be held here. It is a great achievement to hold such a prestigious event in India. I might try to make it during the game days,” said Coimbatore-based Vairavan, who was at Hyatt with his family for lunch on Sunday.
Anand’s other side is equally impressive
DC/ S Bagawati Prasad
Viswanathan Anand is not an inspiration to chess players alone. The five time world champion is also a beacon of hope for people with cerebral palsy, a medical condition in which brain is damaged during or before birth causing permanent weakness in limbs and muscles.
Anand has been a brand ambassador of Vidya Sagar, an organisation that cares for those affected by cerebral palsy.
Vidya Sagar’s own champion C. Karthik led the tributes to Anand, who is on the home stretch of his preparations to take on Norwegian world no. 1 Magnus Carlsen in the world championship match. Karthik, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at age three, can call Anand a friend.
“When I was playing chess in Abilympics in 2001, I sent an e-mail to Anand requesting him to play a game with me at Vidya Sagar. I thought he would reply even if he wouldn’t have time to play with me, “Karthik, 28, said. Anand stunned his ardent fan with a reply, saying he watched Karthik play and his game was good. The Tiger from Madras also promised to take on the youngster.
In 2004, Karthik lived his dream as Anand came over to Vidya Sagar to face him across the chess board. “Anand won the 45minute game in 43 moves. He wasn’t just there to satisfy my wish but for a noble cause. From then on, he started visiting Vidya Sagar regularly to encourage people with disability.
He has been a pillar of support for us,” he added. Anand’s approach, Karthik said, to physically challenged people is exemplary. “He doesn’t treat them differently. Anand’s conversation doesn’t make me feel that I have cerebral palsy. He gave me a lot of tips on chess,” he added.
Karthik, who has a double M.A. besides completing graduation in library science and M. Phil, fondly remembered Anand’s simul display to raise funds for Vidya Sagar.
“On the day he also played against a few online. Though the agenda was to raise funds for Vidya Sagar, the champion didn’t lose a single game,” added Karthik, who can proudly say that he has played the five-time champion multiple times.
“My most memorable moment with Anand was when he invited my family for his family event. I was overwhelmed with joy. I would never forget that day,” said Karthik, who is employed in a private company. Karthik said he is looking forward to wish Anand in person before the GM starts yet another challenging journey in his glittering career.
Rajul Padmanabhan, director of Vidya Sagar, was full of praise for the chess icon.
“Anand has always encouraged chess players from the disabled community. He has been a friend of Vidya Sagar for a long time. We design his name cards and stationery.
Vidya Sagar is proud that the world champion carries our products wherever he goes. He is always there for us. We wish our brand ambassador the best of luck for the world chess championship,” she said.
ALL’S WELL FOR ANAND’S BEST SECOND
DC/TN Raghu
Viswanathan Anand must have entered the climactic stages of his preparations to take on Norwegian wunderkind Magnus Carlsen in the world chess championship from November 9. After working with unnamed seconds in an undisclosed location for nearly three months, the defending champion has come back home as an oasis of calm.
One of the main reasons for Anand’s stupendous success in the last one and a half decades is his wife and the most important second of his life, Aruna.
Even as Anand had been racking his brain to add yet another trophy to his already strained cabinet, Aruna worked as a one-woman army to ensure that arrangements were perfect for the homecoming of India’s first GM. From poring over contractual details of the world championship to checking the venue with an eagle eye, Aruna acts as Anand’s go-to woman.
“Everything is in place for the world championship. I’m satisfied with all the arrangements. I’m sure the organisers will put up a wonderful show befitting the stature of the world championship, “Aruna said.
When asked how much of a difference she sees in Anand’s preparations now to his previous world championships, Aruna said: Wait until the first press conference. Anand hasn’t played at home since 1991. Aruna said the world champion is excited to be playing in his own backyard. “I reckon his approach to the event would be the same because a world championship is a world championship wherever it’s played,“ she added.
What did Anand miss during his intense preparations? “Akhil certainly missed Anand,“ she said. Anand, too, admitted to missing his son’s “philharmonic orchestra“ of utensil music in an interview to a newspaper recently.
Aruna acts as a buffer to make sure that Anand is in a bubble during world championships. Anand won all his five world championships after marrying Aruna. There is something in his spouse that makes the Tiger from Madras rapacious for world titles.
Source: http://www.asianage.com
Anand will win.