Anand tightlipped about his team for World Chess Championship
PTI 23 December 2009, 03:27pm IST

NEW DELHI: Viswanathan Anand doesn’t want the world, Veselin Topalov to be precise, to know how he is planning his title defence in next year’s World Chess Championship and remained tightlipped about his team of seconds.

Keeping his cards close to his chest, the otherwise genial orator refused to succumb to queries on his support staff, letting out just one name.

“I can tell you the name of (Peter Heine) Nielsen (of Denmark) but would not name anybody else,” Anand said with an impish smile.

“And even if I give it, my opponent would not believe it,” quipped the Indian who became world champion in 2007 and successfully defended the title next year, beating Russian Grandmaster Vladimir Kramnik in Bonn, Germany.

Once again, the affable Indian will defend his title in Sophia, Bulgaria from April 5 next year over a 12-game contest with local favourite Topalov.

Asked if going into the contest as the title holder is tougher than being the challenger, Anand said, “There is not much of a difference between a defender and a challenger.

“As the holder, you no longer have the advantage of retaining the title with a draw. Once you start playing, these things become secondary,” he explained.

Asked about his preparation, Anand did not share anything specific but said he was leaving no stone unturned to give him the best chance of defending the title.

“I’m doing a lot of preparations, very similar to what I did before Bonn. I’m working intensely with my team. When the world is focusing only on you, you have to look at your game very thoroughly. You don’t have that kind of introspection before every other.

“I’m doing hell lot of works. For events, there is Corus in January, followed by a couple of tournaments and then the Championship itself,” he said.

The Indian was fine with the 12-game format, which he found ideal.

“I think 12 is an ideal number. Longer than that and it’s not an ideal event in modern times. You cannot have battles spanning over three-four months anymore.

“I think 12 is a good mix of determining who the real champion is and at the same time, making it interesting for the fans,” he said.

Anand has not been at his best this year but the Indian insisted he could not be accused of not giving his best.

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