Anand to start chess academy
Grandmaster Vishwanathan Anand is contemplating the setting up of a chess academy to foster the talent coming up in India.
"At some point, I want to start an academy and I would like to do that in Madras," he said, addressing the media at the Tal Chess Club in the southern capital city, where he himself had learnt his first moves.
Anand said he was hoping to find sponsorship to set up the academy, since he planned on it having the latest infrastructure - which in turn entails considerable expense.
"I've been following the exploits of the junior players - especially Sasikiran, and a couple of others, in the recent junior competitions. It is nice that players like this are coming up, it means the sport has grown tremendously in the last ten years or so, a lot of good players with potential have come into the limelight at the junior and sub-junior levels."
Asked how this talent needed to be developed, Anand said, "They should be made to play as much as possible, in as many tournaments as we can manage. Mere preparation is not enough, match play is what helps you develop, especially in an individual sport like chess."
About his own immediate agenda, Anand indicated that the upcoming world championships in December, in the revised format and minus Garry Kasparov, was most definitely his first priority.
"Vladimir Kramnik and Topolov will be among the toughest opponents," Anand said in response to a question.
For the first time in its history, the world championship will be played on a knockout basis. "I'll obviously go flat out to win, even though the fact is that given the new best of two games format, anybody who plays well on the day could win," the Indian ace said. "Another major factor is the lineup - who figures in your half of the draw is crucial, you don't have to worry about the players in the other half until you reach the final stages."
Asked about his own chances - and also that of Polish grandmaster Judit Polgar, who becomes the first woman to contest the world title - Anand quipped: "As good as anybody else's. Given the format, it is rather difficult to bet on anybody."
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