
A champion should play all formats
Vijay Tagore
Sunday, July 20, 2008 04:08 IST
It is not Viswanathan Anand’s style to make controversial statements.
He believes playing chess, across the board, not off it. When Garry Kasparov
was slamming the door on him during the 1995 PCA World championship final in
New York, the Indian Grandmaster, then a challenger to the ‘world champion’,
chose not to whine. Now when Vladimir Kramnik, now a challenger to Anand’s
crown, has launched
an attack on his status as a world champion, Anand chose to ignore him too.
Vijay Tagore finds out what effect Kramnik’s outburst has had on Anand.
Excerpts:
Kramnik has made some strong remarks on Mexico world championship and
some of them were trained at you. Do you see it as an attempt to psyche you
ahead of your match in Bonn?
I prefer not to give too much attention to interviews. I think you should
just play your chess and not find excuses. I understand that there will be a
lot of out-of-the-board tactics and this could come under that category. I remember
before and after Mexico also similar kind of rhetoric was used from their side.
He
rubbished Mexico 2007 as a compromise.
As a champion you should learn to play all formats and accept the results.
I think this topic has been discussed a lot. We have to get to the present situation.
You don’t see Federer complain about Nadal winning Wimbledon. Nor do you
have the debate whether a grass court player is a classical player and hence
better. They play on different surfaces. One plays better than another on different
surfaces. But you try to play your best on all courts.
Do you think Kramnik is yet to reconcile to the defeat in Mexico?
If there is an event called the World Championship and someone wins it he
or she is the World Champion. You can’t suddenly find conditions that
make them a lesser champion, if it doesn’t favour you. I played in Moscow
2001 and Ponomariov won. He rightfully has a claim to the title.
Is it binding that only match-play should decide a world champion, not
a tournament play?
How to find a true World Champion is an enigma all chess players are very
keen to solve. The tournament format seemed very just and interesting now we
have a new format to find the World Champion. In my opinion a champion is someone
who plays tournaments, shows his preparation, is unafraid of challenges and
not too scared to put his title on the line. There is no use of a title if you
play badly.
Kramnik claims to have saved the world chess from another split by taking
part in Mexico.
I don’t know if that is the popular opinion. I think analysing his games
keeps me fairly occupied these days, I don’t want to start analysing his
words.
Is it case of being a bad loser?
No comment. Kramnik is a world class player and he will be a tough rival in
October and that is what I will be focusing on. I am not really thinking of
his past results or his interviews. He has shown he is a good match player and
has played matches in the last few years.
He says the value of Mexico tournament is not as much as any classical
match?
That’s his personal opinion. Both San Luis and Mexico were highly entertaining
and produced some really good games. And we had a lot of decisive games. The
question is not classical, rapid etc, it is what is relevant and entertaining.
He cited your none-too-impressive record against Kasparov. He says you
were out-foxed by the big K.
Everyone has their nemesis. For me it was clearly Kasparov. I don’t
think I want to make excuses for that. Kasparov, in spite of his explosive character,
brought the game into the limelight. Now that we are not rivals I can say that
Kasparov did try to promote the game on a global level. In a way players at
the top should try to promote the game in their own countries as that is the
legacy that makes you feel proud. If you have not done that you have failed
as a sportsperson.
How is your preparation going?
Good so far.
You will be taking part in the Chess Grand Slam a month before the world
championship. What could be the thinking?
I wanted some practical play before the match. Last year also I played in
Mainz three weeks before Mexico.