Vishy Anand throws down the gauntlet to Magnus Carlsen
Leonard Barden
guardian.co.uk, Friday 3 September 2010 20.47 BST
Vishy Anand set the agenda for top chess in 2010, and probably 2011, when he declared after retaining his world title that his ambition now is to regain the No1 spot in the global rankings. Anand thus laid down his gauntlet to Magnus Carlsen, the Norwegian who leads the international list and whose current rating of 2826 is the second highest mark ever after Garry Kasparov.
Anand’s ambition might seem reasonable for a reigning world champion, but in reality it is highly ambitious and there will be many doubters. At age 40, the Indian’s strength now seems to be increasingly in the slower pace of one-to-one matches rather than in the cut and thrust of tournaments, whereas Carlsen, at 19 less than half his rival’s age, has the stamina and energy to press for full points in almost every game he plays.
Also in Carlsen’s favour is the current rating difference between his 2826 and Anand’s 2800. The gap sounds modest, but for Anand to close it before the end of this year he will most likely need to finish ahead of Carlsen at both the Grand Slam final in Bilbao, Spain, in October and in the London Classic at Kensington Olympia played from 6-15 December. They will meet head-to-head twice at Bilbao and once in London, and the minimum points target for Anand will be 2/3 in these games.
Here is the full article.
Anand won’t beat Carlsen in a match.
I wouldn’t be so sure. I’d love to see an Anand-Carlsen world championship match, but I really don’t know who would win. I’d probably bet on Carlsen, but don’t count Vishy out.
Age is chess shouldn’t be much of an issue! It’s not boxing! Madonna is fitter than most 25yr olds! It will be tough for Anand, but it’s good he still has the motivation to set himself such goals. Good luck too him!
Sure Carlsen is a most exciting prospect. I hope he wins the candidates,but he will have to fight off the likes of Topalov and Aronian. As for Anand,let us remember that he was a super chess talent,who got to the top without all the support and encouragement that Carlsen has had.
For that to happen Anand,please start winning against against MC and Aronian
I think Anand is living in a fantasy land. Carlsen is extremely likely to get better at his age.
I wish older people could compete at the highest level. But if you look through the top world rankings, it’s all young guys. That doesn’t happen by accident.
Given the poor quality of play displayed by both Anand and Topalov in their recent match, Carlsen would very likely beat either.
Mission Accomplished by Mr. Anand!