German GM Luther criticises Anand for taking Kasparov’s help
Updated on Friday, June 04, 2010, 17:48 IST
Mumbai: German Grandmaster Thomas Luther has backed Bulgarian Veselin Topalov and has hit out at Indian ace Vishwanathan Anand for having taken the help of two former champions Gary Kasparov and Vladimir Kramnik during successful defense of his world crown in Sofia last month.
The decision of Anand to take the support of current World No 1 Magnus Carlsen of Norway against Topalov, too, did not find favour from the 40-year-old German, who said the Scandinavian could be the Indian maestro’s next rival for the world crown.
“If I were in Topalov’s place I, too, wouldn’t have appreciated if an outsider had interfered in our match and taken side,” Luther, currently in the city to take part in Mumbai Mayor’s International tournament, told reporters in an interview at the Goregaon Sports Club.
“While Kasparov has retired, the real motive behind Kramnik and Carlsen helping Anand will only be known in the future,” Luther said.
“Carlsen is the World No 1 and is likely to be the next challenger to Anand’s World Championship crown,” he added.
Topalov also, in a media interview after his loss to Anand, had said the Indian ace should not feel “very proud” of having taken the help of the two Russian greats who were his past rivals for the world crown.
Topalov had pointed out the disparaging way Kasparov treated Anand when the two clashed for the crown previously and remarked he would never accept help from persons who had humiliated him in the past even if it was offered free.
Luther also warned Anand to be wary of the Russians as they were likely to target his world crown. “In Russia, the school of chess is very strong. The game has many followers there. It’s a question of honour for them to have a world champion.”
Luther, who followed Anand’s triumphant run to the world crown against Topalov, said the rivalry between the two has helped generate interest in the sport among the media. “The World Championship series between Anand and Topalov attracted a lot of attention from the media. It is good for the game which otherwise is not considered as spectator-friendly,” the German GM said.
“That Anand won the Championship in the 12th game and the series went till 5.5-5.5 points itself shows how close it was. In the end, Anand’s victory was well deserved,” said the German, who attained his highest world ranking of 80 ten years ago.
Luther felt teenage sensation Parimarjan Negi had the potential to carry forward the legacy of Anand, but added it hinged on the youngster’s keenness to do so.
Here is the full article.
It’s wrong for Anand to take their help. Very wrong.
Higest world rating of 80?
No one was there moving pieces for Anand.
Topy’s ass was beat fair and square.
Get over it Topaslob fans.
There’s nothing wrong with taking anybody’s help, or form a supercomputer. Every help is allowed before and inbetween a match, but not during the games itself.
Anand can accept help from whomever he wants, and it’s no one else’s business. So can Topalov, for that matter. Why is this whining news?
Probably it wasn’t too much “help” anyway chesswise. More like a friendly gesture. Anand taking time to listen to Kasparov and say thank you afterwards. Anand beeing a gentleman as allways.
I think its rather silly. They probably didn’t offer anything but general help, advice..etc. I hear Carlsen like to spar with Spped chess with Anand occasionally. Big Deal anyhows…I’ve heard nobody complaining about that Monster IBM machine Topalov was running. THe only important thing is what you do at the board and during the game, and Anand won. Simple. When Fischer won the title he was faced by the entire Soviet chess apparatus….which included a number of X Word champs. Nobody cares…neither did Fischer…he played at the board and won. Stop crying in your Soup. Topalov played a great match….and Anand beat him. Case closed.
GM who? said what??? just another topa fan making excuses… Anand has class and he would be a gentleman to anyone who called…
Let’s leave Anand alone shall we. He can take help from whome ever he wants. He had to play the games and no one was there at the board to help him. I’ve never heard of GM Luther, and his opinions like everyone elses, including Topalov, are irrelevant. If Topalov gets to the WC again maybe he should rethink his help.
Topalov is a sore loser!
Topalov would be an extremely arrogant World Champion.
Susan that Transboard Knight, confuses all their old theory,now they wanna distract! .Ya know Susan i cant wait to be face to face with theses Jokers.oh Susan this british guy colin crouch tried to write a book called modern chess, tryin to understand the Tboard horse,he have the moves in his book but lacks the true understanding, just like the top guys.
Very strong views, indeed, the German Grandmaster brings out several interesting points of view not previously represented. However, very helpful in clearing the air. The champion himself would not want to directly refute every line of criticism related to this issue (the major ones being the questions of “fairplay” and “ignoring motives of helpers”). His several interviews including the one in week published in this same blog answer them indirectly. The man is too genial and civilised to say anything that would remotely appear to belittle the gestures of KK&C.
However, what is missing in these arguments is the simple and well known truth, that at this sublimely higher levels of chess, the givers of help derive as much delight and enlightenment out of the process as the Champion himself. That the champion was able to inspire these gesture should be a matter of congeniality. Eventhough kasparov has been a rival to Anand during his younger years- he was also his icon for most of his still younger years, and of course the man to beat. Anand never concealed his admiration for the great champ. His enthusiastic response of discussing his preparation with Kasparov (and the trust shown) reveals this aspect. Some of these smart preps make the big K breath hard. On his part Topalov deserves to be congratulated for not saying that the help was “unfair” though his remark pertaining to the unpleasant episodes of Kasparov’s competitive years was rather ill conceived and in bad taste. Please note that Topalov always give an honest and frank apprisal of all his worthy opponents, contrary to the remarks emanating later from his camp.
Chess is not a stagnant game. Carlson, or for that matter Kramnik or even Aronian would want to win the championship on their main strengths and preparation. They truly have a worthy opponent now. Exciting times for Chess.
Anand is a gentleman. I wish the same could be said about more top players and FIDE officials.
Well, I now see it as Kasparov’s and Kramnik’s World Championship. There is no question that Anand moved the pieces but the brains, opening choice, etc were all Kramnik’s and Kasparov. Maybe in the first game Anand try to play his own chess, but after that it he tuck tail and run to the biggies of Kramnik and Kasparov.
Kasparov always say Anand coffeehouse player too. So now we know, now we know….
Susan, Are u going to publish comments of any dick/tom/harry
against Anand ?? In that case I
can write a long article on
Topalov and send it to you.
Anand could have consulted Topalov, Luther or even Danailov before selecting the consultants if not seconds
I don’t see anything in the rules and regulations for the World Championship that state a player cannot take advice from anyone who offers it.
There are so many Topalov´s widows!
Anonymous,12:16:00 PM CDT
Do you know when Kasparov said the word Coffeehouse player? Do you know the game that was played? Anand overlooked and allowed a pawn fork. So Kasparov said it in a teasing way. And you think he always said that!
Always? Can you provide the citations?
If Kasparov thought Anand was a coffeehouse player then why did he contest WCC in 1995? How can he be WC by playing against a coffeehouse player?
You know, people like you don’t want to analyze properly. Just hold one string and claim that is the truth! The world is filled with such people.
Anand is top3 player in the world most of his career. So he doesn’t your certificate or for that matter Kasparov’s certificate.
And if you search you will find that during Game 12 in sofia, Kasparov remarked to GM Shipov that he thinks Anand understands Chess a bit better than Topalov where as Topa thinks more like a computer.
So try to see all the things. Don’t blind yourself by holding on to a decades old teasing remark of Kasparov.
Anand coffee house player?
If you played him you would appear to be like small animal being beaten by cruel master.
I finding your dislike of Anand very harming to chess. Anand is WORLD CHAMPION!
Anand is the champion currently, not Kasparov, not Karpov, not Kramnik.
Anand is wise.
You are not.
Even if an Kasparow or Kramnik advice would have helped Anand to remain champion than still Anand is to be prefered over Topalov, because it means K and K are also stronger players than Topa together with his supercomputer.
Topa isn’t the strongest player, so not the WC.
GM Thomas who? Never heard of him. #520 in the world and #25 in Germany? Are you kidding me?
Luther should shut up. I am German myself but his remarks are simply embarrassing. If he had been playing for the World Championship and (1) the strongest player ever, (2) the world’s current #1 and (3) the player who defeated Topalov in a previous match offered their support he would not decline either. Stupid remarks from him but probably even worse that they get published…
GM Luther???? Ha! Ha! Ha! Ho ! Ho! Ho! Who cares! If K,K,C & Co call up Anand and make small talk,so be it. They all respect Anand a heck of a lot more than Topa,the toppled!
3 world champions (Ananad,Kasparov,Kramnik) plus the next one (Carlsen) – All against TOPALOV .
Is that fair?
They all envy and fear Topalov’s strength.
Topalov reached the highest elo ever fora human!
The others are just sore HATERS.
Topalov’s weakest point is his psychological instability.
That’s why he committed harakiri(self destruction) in his last game.
Utter Crap!
Opening preparation alone means we take advice from a lot of resources, including other super GMs and World Champs. Didn’t that what we all do?
Sounds like another sore loser whining! Maybe he was one of the “secret” players wo helped Flopalov! Well the secret is out now…Flopalov with his attitude can probably only get support from these type of players – hence why he had to spend lots of money to get access to a supercomputer – which could not do anything to help Flopalove over the board!
Thomas Luther, 2541, has an opinon. Good for him! But why on earth do I need to know what it is? No, seriously? Is there anything resembling an argument in any of this? Anything we didn’t already know? Commit it then to the flames, for it can contain nothing but sophistry and illusion.;)
I’m honestly wondering why anyone cares about anything this person nobody has ever heard of thinks…haha…Certainly not worth an article. He should post comments like the rest of us…because what he says matters about as much but he’s not an authority on anything…Honestly..I’ve never heard of him…and find it surprising he’s being listened to more than the odd fan comment.
The more of this nonsense I hear, the happier I am that Anand won,
great some guy i couldn’t care less about has an extremly stupid veiw on the match,lets hope his friends tell him to keep quiet after this embarrassing article. the moral of the story is don’t write about things you don’t come close to understanding
Someone wrote that Anand can take a help from everyone.
Yes he can,we can take a help, we could get the devil help either in the world where the result not the way of achievement is important.
The fact that sth can be done, does not mean it is fair or good.
what do we see ? London Chess Classic
Anand, Kramnik, Carlsen invited and playing
company of common business and adoration 🙂
You mean you read Faust?
I don’t believe in the devil and these are your words if you compare Kasparow or Kramnik to that term.
dear Susan,
Now, You are bound to publish other 518 players’ (rated above Luther other than Topalov) opinion as well.
Statement by Thomas Luther
Recently an article about me was published where comments in my name were made.
I want to state that I did not say what was written in that article.
At the moment I am in Mumbai playing an open tournament. The interview
was about my experiences in India and the success of the Indian
players. None of that was written in the article. I want to state
that none of the total nonsense said in that article were my words.
Thomas Luther