The current generation of Indian chess players is excellent at seizing opportunities: Viswanathan Anand

The 54-year-old, one of the greatest Indian sportsmen of all time with five world titles to his name, will make a rare competitive appearance at the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League next month in London, where he will be part of the Ganges Grandmasters team.

In an interview with PTI, Anand shared his thoughts on India’s chances at the Chess Olympiad that begins on Wednesday, his impressions of the country’s Olympic and Paralympic performance, the golden generation of young players he has helped groom and also his own plans for the future.

Read also: Australia launches talent search for Brisbane 2032 Olympics

Widely credited for developing athletes like D Gukesh, the youngest ever and a world championship contender, and R Praggnanandhaa, among others, Anand said he played a small role and shared the credit for their growth with his personal coaches and parents.

“I am doing everything I can. It was certainly a very nice project to be able to start the Westbridge Anand Academy four years ago. It was inspired by schools I had seen in the Soviet Union more than 30 or 40 years ago.

“I tried to borrow some ideas from various places. (At that time) Indians were constantly entering the top 200, but not reaching the top 100. The idea was to support talent and help them get through that stage.

“I think we have been successful. It is very exciting for us that Gukesh is now playing in the world championship. (But) there are so many people involved, not just WACA but also his parents, his coaches. We try to make sure that we can integrate well,” he added.

Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa and another young star, R Vaishali, will compete in the Chess Olympiad in Budapest. Anand is hopeful that the result will be better than the bronze that both the men’s and women’s teams won in the 2022 edition.

“…let’s not forget that last year, they already smelled gold, they had it in their hands, it slipped away in the penultimate round and the women lost it in the last round. I hope they rectify that this time…

“I mean, I may be a very natural player, but I like to take it step by step. But if I had to take a chance, these are pretty good teams to play against,” he said.

Asked what makes the current generation a bigger success story than Surya Shekhar Ganguly, K Sasikiran and Sandipan Chanda, Anand said it was the ability to grab crucial opportunities.

“But I would like to point out that many of the players from the older generation are coaching these youngsters, so in a way they are responsible for the success of this generation.

“Many of them had very good careers. They often competed against top players. But, you know, sometimes in sports it’s not enough to have results… when an opportunity presents itself, you just have to grab it with both hands,” he said.

“I think Gukesh positioned himself well in the Candidates Tournament. He was not the favourite and he was not experienced. When he still had a chance, he did his job. So you have to take advantage of the opportunity and the current generation is doing quite well,” Anand said.

Chess has never been an Olympic sport despite its large international presence and rich history, as it does not involve the athletics for which the Olympic Games are celebrated. Anand hopes to see that change in the coming years.

He also followed India’s campaign at the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games very closely.

“Chess has a strong case for inclusion in the Olympics. We have a couple of options, either the Summer Games or the Winter Games. But the E-Sports Games could also be an option,” said Anand, who is also vice-president of FIDE, the world governing body for chess.

“I’ve tried to capture a lot of fantastic moments. At the Olympics, I think that despite having 15 medals up for grabs, we converted fewer than we would have liked. Whereas at the Paralympics, this is really fantastic,” he said, referring to the unprecedented 29 medals won by para-athletes.

“Her ability to face difficulties and persevere is quite inspiring. Sheetal is a perfect example of how such moments stay etched in your memory,” he added.

Semi-retired from the game, Anand said he is looking forward to his participation in the GCL next month, where some top international players such as Magnus Carlsen will also compete.

Apart from this, Anand said he is also looking forward to competing in the Leon Masters in Spain next year after winning it for the 10th time earlier this year.

“Next year I’m going to play some tournaments. I don’t know which ones yet, but I hope to play in Spain again. Being semi-retired means I’m making a slow transition rather than just quitting one day, setting my own pace,” said the icon, who finds his administrative role “fascinating.”