Will Anand break the draw-lock?
Hari Hara Nandanan, TNN | Dec 3, 2011, 05.56AM IST
The nine-player event, the last of the year, will feature four super GMs above 2800-Elo rating, including Anand but the Indian has had an unimpressive run in the just-concluded Tal Memorial tournament in Moscow drawing all the games.
The pattern is unlikely to change as Anand would be conscious about his game as he is scheduled to play his World championship match against Boris Gelfand of Israel next year. Of late, the preparations in world championship have assumed great significance with the participants keeping even the names of their seconds as a top secret.
Anand’s concern will not be about the names of his seconds as much as it is about the openings that he would be employing against Gelfand.
By trying to move far away from the systems that he has in his plans and still be effective is the balance that the World Champion has to find in tournaments, though the pressure on him might have eased a little bit after Magnus Carlsen of Norway has overtaken him in the Fide rankings this year.
The immediate danger for Anand will be a fall from the 2800-club if he performs far below expectations in London.
Anand starts with black against Michael Adams of England in the opening round. Apart from Carlsen, who has been in top form so far this year, the presence of former World Champion Vladimir Kramnik of Russia and Levon Aronian of Armenia makes the Classic a super tournament.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
With Naka so near would a Anand win be far away..
Mr Anand reminds me in temperment of one of my favourite players. Petrosian.
He does not have a ravenous need to win everything…beat everyone…in this culture of give it to me now now now!!! He’s playing these tournaments to simply stay in shape. He’s a tough man to beat…as you can see, he’s rarely in any problems at the board these days….unlike say Mr Carlsen who squeezes in and out of problems….(He was lost in game 1 of the Tal memorial but eeked out the draw because Aronian didn’t find the win..But despite Magnus’s fun style and turbulent ( for the moment)ride…Anand is way more Mature a player for now. In a match I’d say he’s a really tough nut to crack and a great world champ. He doesn’t need to prove anything…someboady has got to beat him…and apparently that someone isn’t here yet, despite his critics.
Mike
And I might add….why is winning so important? Losing has taught me way more than winning ever did.\
Mike M
It’s the fact Anand does take less and less risks, probably not so much to avoid losses but preparations. Kasparow never bailed out on that because he was more energetic.
In my opinion Kasparow stopped playing because he didn’t want to be a champion like Anand is today: only peak at some scarcely moments.
But the latter is not to blame for that, don’t get me wrong, he sure is very strong, but not proven the very strongest overall. He might be, but he doesn’t show.