Anand: I never really thought of chess as a career
In
the seventies, chess was considered a game for old fogies with little prize
money. In that era, very few people would have dared to allow their child to
pursue chess. Schoolboy Anand of Chennai, India, was lucky in that his parents
Susheela and Viswanathan not only encouraged him, but also spent time, money
and effort to fuel the ambitions of their son.
Anand went on to win all possible prestigious events, bagged four Chess Oscars,
won the World Championship and World Cups. All his exploits have been greeted
with banner headlines, but very little has been written about his early days
and the struggles he had to undergo before he went on to make his mark.
In a candid conversation with Manisha Mohite, Anand recalls his struggles and
successes and gives us a rare glimpse of how he got to the very top.
Who were the Indian players you looked up to as a beginner and did
anyone encourage you?
I am not sure whether I looked up to anyone. We were all in this race to be
India's first Grandmaster. So for me they were all rivals. At every stage, you
just had new rivals and some were even troublesome for me. I remember that a
player had this habit of spinning his key chain, which used to irritate me a
lot. Then a person, who worked with my dad and used to take care of me, decided
I had to wear a cap and that is how I started playing with a cap. Since I was
the youngest player, at times I found it difficult to fit in with the older
generation. One player went to my father and told him that I didn't have any
talent and my playing fast wouldn't take me anywhere. At that time, I remember
we were all quite angry, but now when I think of it, I can smile it off.
Any particular memories about playing in Age Category events?
In 1984, I played the World Sub junior. I was down with jaundice and throughout
the event I would play looking downwards so that my yellow eyes would not be
seen. Funnily, it was there I met Alexey Dreev, Jeron Piket and Vassily Ivanchuk
for the first time.
When you began your career, chess was not very popular and there was
hardly any money in it. Did you at any point of time feel any hesitation in
pursuing it?
I never really thought of chess as a career. I just enjoyed it, especially
these weekend blitz games at the Tal Club. When I started travelling abroad,
we noticed the problems. My dad would typically go to Delhi, present the papers
in all the ministries and then mom and I would go to Delhi and wait. If all
the necessary permits had come, I would be taken immediately to the airport.
That was a completely different era. Today everything is just much easier.
India was your base. How did you manage the frequent trips to Europe
and stays there initially?
It was difficult initially as we had to make the foreign exchange last. Mom
and I would stay with friends or relatives. Once we stayed with someone and
I was doing well in that event. Every morning, the man would ask: “So
how many days is your tournament?” After a few days, we got used to this
and would just reply one week and smile. Now when I meet the same people, they
say, you know Anand stayed at my house. It is cute in a way. I was extremely
lucky to make good friends abroad and may be this made it easy. Till 1991, I
was on my own. I won a few pounds at the Lloyds Bank tournament and was able
to buy my mother a bag. From 1991, I became a candidate and as a World Junior
Champion, started getting invitations to major events. After my match with Karpov,
I had become one of the pack and was able to play abroad without much problems.
In 1991, I met a couple, Maurice and Nieves based in Spain and after that never
had to worry about travelling in Europe. I always had a house with friends where
I could stay. You can say that Maurice adopted me instantly and then Nieves
couldn't resist the ‘Little Indian boy’. But I never really worried
about the food or hotels. I had a walkman and my sister used to send me some
cassettes which I would plug in and listen for hours.
A major turning point in your life was your marriage to Aruna. I remember
that a bunch of prominent players sent you a special message on your wedding
predicting a loss of form. But Aruna’s presence in your life actually
went on to make you an even better player and brought out your best chess?
Indian journalist Manisha Mohite
conducted this charming interview
|
In 1996, the players at the VSB tournament in Amsterdam sent me a card for
my wedding with this dedication “Anand congrats on your wedding. You were
a great player, now be ready to lose 50 points”. When I showed it to Aruna,
she was really scared. When we went to Dortmund, our honeymoon event, she had
no idea about chess and would be scared to even ask the result. Both of us never
really sat down and decided how our marriage would be. From the first moment,
she seemed to adjust completely. There have been times when she is in the room
and you will never even notice her and for someone who is so vivacious, it is
really striking. In tournaments, I may not be the nicest person to have around
but Aruna will tiptoe around. The joke is that at tournaments I can say anything
and will get away with it, but the day the event finishes, Aruna will let go
and then I am really in trouble. Somehow we go through the good days and bad
days knowing there is someone there who is with you 100 percent. It gives you
that extra confidence.
Any anecdote from you childhood days that you would like to recall?
When I was in class five, I was fairly well known for my chess and used to
win local events. When we had inter-house events, my housemates would boast
that there was no way we would lose in chess. One day when we went to a birthday
party, everyone asked me: “Hey Anand, you must have crushed the other
guys”. I said: “Yes, I will when the event is played.” Then
I realised that the event had already been held and I had got the dates wrong!
Everyone was very annoyed with me . Even now, when we meet, they say “Anand
, you are world number one, but remember that our house didn't win the tournament”.
