Chess Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand observes that the present crop of Indian chess players, Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa R and Vaishali R, in particular, is remarkably grasping the anticipating vital points and performing successfully on the international level.
Anand, who has been closely associated with these budding youngsters as a mentor also praised the youngsters for their laurels earned and put this down to the fact that they worked hard, were determined and had the backing of their coaches and relatives. He also mentioned the need of taking chances every now and then as was the case when Gukesh played impressively in the Candidates Tournament.
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In regard to the Chess Olympiad in Budapest, he referred to the forthcoming tournament with a good feeling and mentioned that both the male and female teams of the country will do their best to surpass the bronze medals obtained at the last edition. This is in reference of the last Olympic games where both men’s and women’s teams qualified for a bronze medal round. On this Anand pointed out the well put together squads that the India has and the ability to match the top most teams.
A disappointment for Anand however seems to be the non-inclusion of chess into the Olympic agenda despite chess being widely played and having a long and prestigious tradition. For his part, he thought chess should be incorporated into the Summer or Winter Clubhockey Games, or at least the E-Sports Games.
Looking back on India’s performance during the last Olympics or Paralympics, in particular, Anand noticed the success of the para-athletes and their willingness to face the odds and fight through. Among other aspects, he singled out Sheetal Devi’s excellent showing in archery as one of the highlights of the event.
As the chess player is about to make another shift in his career; this time from a champion athlete to a coach & sports manager, mentor-cum-sports administrator, Anand has not quit the chess world. He is eager for the forthcoming Tech-Mahnindra Global Chess League in which he shall be taking part next month where he will not only compete against some of the best players in the world but also, mentor younger brightest talent in chess.
Moreover, Anand is also going to participate in the Leon Masters which is going to take place in Spain, next year, a sign of his never fading love for the game and his wish to fight at the ultimate level again. His participation in these competitions is in line with his commitment to a healthy game of chess and the dedication to popularize the game as well as motivate the subsequent generation of players. Viswanathan Anand’s evaluation of the latest batch of Indian chess players indeed speaks volumes about the hard work and the talent that this generation possesses. Thanks to tutors such as Anand and their coaches and families, these young players will undoubtedly have an even more successful career in the near future. The chess development in India seems to be promising as the country will be looking to produce and nurture great chess player’s year after year.
