The Hindu : Sport : It was awesome on all counts: Anand

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Friday, Apr 08, 2005

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It was awesome on all counts: Anand

By Rakesh Rao

GRAND MASTER!: Viswanathan Anand had an amazing run at Monaco picking up the blindfold, rapid and overall titles. - Photo: R. Ragu

NEW DELHI, APRIL 7. "Sometimes you hit a purple patch, but this was awesome on all counts." This is how Viswanathan Anand described his dominating performance in the Amber blindfold and rapid chess tournament in Monaco last week.

This was Anand's first title in three outings this year and fourth in the world's most unique annual chess event.

When contacted by The Hindu after his awe-inspiring showing in Monaco, Anand threw light on many aspects of his campaign that led him to sweep all three titles (blindfold, rapid and overall), like he had done in 1997. Considering that nine of top 14 players in the world were part of the 12-player field, Anand's performance was simply incredible.

"During the tournament, I was able to increase my lead to three points. Against such a tough field you wouldn't normally expect to win by such margins" he said.

He was particularly pleased with his display in the blindfold games, where he was undefeated.

"Blindfold is one of the most strenuous forms of chess, keeping in mind just how tough normal chess has become in the last few years, thanks to databases and opening preparation. Blindfold takes a toll on your mental computing power," revealed Anand and went on to pick his game against World No. 3 Veselin Topalov as his best of the event.

"Topalov played in his usual aggressive style and in blindfold it is very difficult to control all your pieces. I exploited a small, almost imperceptible error on his part to squeeze the whole point without further mistakes from him," pointed out the champion.

Worst game

It was not difficult to guess Anand's worst game of the competition.

"My loss against Evgeny Bareev (in rapid) would be the worst, because I misevaluated the position and went straight for the abyss. No saving grace there!" admitted Anand.

On the dream start that saw him win the first seven games, including two against Topalov and one against Vladimir Kramnik, Anand said, "It went like a dream. Somehow on the (first) rest day, I was very keen to be on terra firma. For it is very easy to get carried away. I played from day to day, focussing on my opponents each day. I thought all the success I can savour together once the event is over."

About his three losses this year with white pieces and encouraging results with black, Anand said, "the balance of power between the white and black pieces has been tending towards equilibrium recently, so may be that also explains my better results with black. In earlier years, I barely won games with black."

Anand will now prepare for another major event in Sofia next month. Interestingly, the organiser has introduced a regulation that prevents the players from indulging in short, agreed draws. What is Anand's take on the rule?

"It is something unique. I would like to see how it could be practically implemented before I really express an opinion. The 10-move draws will be averted but I am not sure what impact it will have on the chess played in tournaments of such high category."

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