Master of all formats

Published : Nov 08, 2008 00:00 IST

By vanquishing Vladimir Kramnik in matchplay, Viswanathan Anand has not only won the World title but also gained greater credibility, acceptance and more importantly, attained greatness, writes Rakesh Rao.

“Indians must be jubilant today. Of course, it is natural. But you cannot imagine how happy the chess loving people of Germany are or for that matter, even those from Spain. Viswanathan Anand belongs to all.”

Grandmaster Arthur Yusupov had aptly summed up the mood of Anand’s fans in these parts of the world. These words came within minutes of Anand ending Vladimir Kramnik’s resistance to keep the World chess title.

At the packed Art and Exhibition Hall in Bonn, Anand received a standing ovation for over two minutes after he received the winner’s trophy. An elite crowd, mostly Germans, later applauded Anand even more vociferously when he made part of his thanks-giving speech in German and acknowledged the support of the people of Bonn.

Anand is admired in several countries, especially in Europe. Like Raj Kapoor in the former Soviet Union, Prakash Padukone in Indonesia, Sachin Tendulkar in all cricket-playing nations and V. V. S. Laxman in Australia, Anand too enjoys a special place in the hearts of people from Europe. Apart from his unmatched exploits on the chessboard, what sets Anand apart is his demeanour. His middle-class upbringing, genial ways and a friendly smile combine to make a lasting impression. He is well informed because he is well read. He is articulate because he has a way with words.

Ironically, Anand’s own countrymen have neither seen nor heard him enough.

In the past decade, Anand has played only twice in India. In 2000, he defeated six opponents in the World Championship before finishing off the job against Alexei Shirov in Teheran. Two years later, Anand beat the field to win the World Cup in Hyderabad. Since then, Anand has had no opportunity to work his magic, even remotely to what he did in Bonn for just over two weeks.

Unlike in India, chess is a major spectator sport in most European countries. For instance, in Bonn, spectators happily paid 35 euros and 280 euros to witness one game of the World Championship. Chess lovers queued up an hour before the start of a game to gain entry and grab vantage points in the dimly lit auditorium. Several others returned home disappointed because tickets were all sold out!

Chess is clearly an action sport with a difference. And Anand provides the spectators plenty of on-board thrills with the way he foxes his rivals. Once known for the speed of thoughts and the ability to make mental calculations faster than any other player, Anand has now slowed down in order to maintain his consistency at the highest level. But even his ‘slow’ play is faster than most of his contemporaries.

Unlike Kramnik or Peter Leko, Anand’s inclination for attacking positions makes his games a joy to follow. The way he squeezed out a splendid victory to demoralise Kramnik in the third game will be recalled by the connoisseurs of the game for a long time. And the manner in which he lured the Russian to his doom in the fifth game is another example of doing just what is required to render a rival defenceless.

On the other hand, in spite of his penchant for dynamic positions, Anand has vastly improved his defensive skills. Kramnik realised it during the second half of the match.

In the opinion of Australia’s first Grandmaster Ian Rogers, “Anand is a pragmatist, even a philistine, who would play bad moves if he thought they would confuse his opponent and lead to a win. Thanks to his incredible feel for the game, Anand has played just as many masterpieces as Kramnik.”

After delighting the chess fans for the better part of the last 25 years with his breath-taking speed, Anand has moved on in his bid to become a more complete player. “Now he is truly a universal champion,” declared Hans Walter Schmitt, the organiser of the annual Chess Classic at Mainz and one of Anand’s close friends since 1994. “But more important is, he is a fine boy. Success has not changed him in all these years.

"You won’t find people like him here. He is a gentleman who has handled success well,” said the German.

Anand’s prowess in every time-format is already a part of the chess folklore. In classical chess, he is a two-time winner of the World Cup. He holds the record for winning the title five times at the annual chess destination of Wijk aan Zee, near Amsterdam. He has also won major titles at Linares and Dortmund.

Anand holds what appears to be an unbreakable record at Mainz where he has won the Chess Classic in rapid format every year since it moved from the nearby Frankfurt in 2001. His domination at Leon and Corsica, where the shorter version of the game is more popular, is unmatched.

Winner of the World blitz title in 2000 and the annual blindfold and rapid competition on a few occasions, there is no doubt about his range of skills. No wonder then that Anand has been honoured with the prestigious Chess Oscar five times!

Before his triumph in Bonn, the sceptics had always questioned Anand’s place among the all-time greats since he had not won the World title in the traditional match format. In the 122-year history of World Championship, title matches have held a special place. By taming none other than Kramnik in matchplay, Anand has won more than just the World title worth 7.5 lakh euros. He has gained greater credibility, acceptance and more importantly, attained greatness.

It is time for Anand to set fresh goals and chase them, an activity that has kept him going. He has made it clear that he still holds a fascination for chess and is definitely not contemplating retirement. Anand, who will turn 39 in less than two months, still has the enthusiasm of a child, the energy of a youth and the experience of an expert.

This cerebral sport truly deserves an undisputed champion like Anand, whose chess acumen, universal appeal and pleasing personality have helped him overcome all barriers. Further, the good news is that he is not through yet.

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