Mr Cool of Chess: Focused Anand untouched by Carlsen Hype, Confident of Retaining World Championship Title

There is one thing that World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand has improved over the years, and we're not talking about his chess this time. It's Anand's ability to block out the entire world and focus on the "task at hand" and the chess board. No wonder he's been World Champion five times. Not for him the fire and brimstone of his colleagues. Not for him media hype that builds up to a crescendo, but the steady, calm and cool approach of a champion who wins with his mind.

While we were focused on the media and fan frenzy that greeted World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen on his recent visit to inspect the World Chess Championship venue in Chennai, Viswanathan Anand has kept his head down and continued his training "at an undisclosed location" with a secret team.

Anand's wife and manager told journalists, after venue inspection, that he is in “deep throes of training” with his seconds. "This is a preliminary inspection. We will make another visit two to three days prior to the championship,” she said.

Aruna also said Anand had been operating “out of Chennai for a reasonable length of time. He is neither looking back nor looking ahead. Specific chess problems occupy his mind now.”

Further, in an email interview to the New Indian Express, Anand has said, "We are just trying to cover as much ground as we can. Surely, the matches have taught me something. But each match for me is a new challenge. I close the chapter on the previous match and approach this as a new challenge."

Anand said, "This is not the first time that I am playing a big event in India. Dreev, New Delhi and then World Cup were all big events that went well for me. I understand the pressure. In the end, only good moves will win the match so that’s the only thing I would want to think about since that’s what I can control."

Viswanathan Anand told the Indian newspaper, he was confident of retaining his title. He said, "My team is made up of excellent people and I hope I can justify their faith and hard work they put in me." As regards his "secret of winning big matches," Anand says, "I try to just look at the game in hand. I don’t want to start analysing that now. At present, I am only thinking of Chennai 2013 and that’s what matters."

Anand respects Carlsen's talent and says, "He is a tenacious player. Lots of talent and extremely ambitious."

After a recent Times Now report stating the Anand camp was not happy with the "illness clause" in the World Chess Championship contract, both Anand and Aruna have maintained that they would not like to discuss the clause. Anand said, "The contracts have been signed, I don’t want to dwell on it. I don’t doubt Carlsen’s integrity as a sportsperson and I am sure neither party will misuse it."

Sources in the All India Chess Federation (AICF) said, "It's obvious that all concerned want the match to take place. Why effort should not be made to ensure that everyone is satisfied and all is done in the best interests of the sport? We should focus on the positives of bringing such a big event to India instead of speculating about what the contract is. After all, neither of the players have signed the contract under duress. There is no need for such discussions." 

Carlsen’s Chennai visit has also gone un-noticed by the World Champion. "I am not aware of the details of his visit. I don’t follow chess news when I train. He has been at our home in Spain a few times and always enjoyed the food it seemed," Anand said.

Throughout his career, the Indian chess prodigy has come across as someone calm, quiet, extremely level-headed and forever amiable. He prefers to speak through his chess. -- Zainab Raza Undulusi

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Kasparov vs Carlsen: Only Chess Encounter Analysed/Explained in Daniel King Power Play Video

Daniel King is a chess Grandmaster. He has been a professional chess-player for over 25 years representing his country on numerous occasions. In addition, he is a games consultant, television presenter, live commentator, freelance journalist and an award-winning author of 15 books. His Power Play DVD Series are a huge hit with chess players all over the world. In this video, Daniel King shows the only encounter between two chess heavyweights - Garry Kasparov vs Magnus Carlsen.

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Anand vs Carlsen World Chess Championshop 2013 - World No. 1 Blogs: Looking Forward to a Great Event!

World Chess Championship 2013 Venue Inspection: World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen has blogged about his Chennai visit from the Hyatt Regency.

"On the way to Chennai we (me and my manager, my father, a chef and a few media representatives from Norway) had a short stop in Doha, Qatar.

"The combination of evening darkness and a humid +37C wind was pretty exotic for Norwegians. And it made Chennai and +30 seem rather cool and pleasant upon arrival.

"We arrived in the middle of the night and were greeted at the airport by a hospitable and friendly group of representatives from the Indian and state Chess Federations headed by FIDE vice-president president Sundar.

"The playing venue and players hotel is the five star Hyatt Regency in the centre of Chennai. We are staying there now, and Sunday we were shown the planned playing venue and the other facilities of the hotel.

"The organisers, the hotel staff and everyone involved have been very helpful and shown great hospitality. Monday we visited a girls' college for a simultaneous display and a press conference. The interest and atmosphere was quite overwhelming. The group of young opponents was surprisingly strong with master players and titled players mainly. Still, the +10-4=6 score was not what I’m used to. India certainly has a bright future as a chess nation☺

"In the evening the Minister-Counseller of the Norwegian Embassy hosted a friendly reception for the players, their parents and guests of the Embassy, the Norwegian Honorary Consular in Chennai and the Chess Federations.
"Tuesday evening I’m heading back to Norway after a successful inspection visit. More than ever, I look forward to the World Championship match against Anand in November.

"Before going to Chennai I spent a fortnight on a training camp at the Kragerø Resort on the Norwegian south coast and participated in sponsor events with Arctic Securities and my new main sponsor Nordic Semiconductor!
"Early September I’ll leave for St.Louis in the US for the Sinquefield Chess Cup playing against Aronian, Nakamura and Kamsky. Looking forward to a great event! 

Magnus Carlsen, Hyatt Regency, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, August 19, 2013 2013-08-19 22:37:15

(A sponsoring agreement was signed between Arctic Securities and Magnus Carlsen when the latter became an International Grandmaster at the age of 13, the youngest at the time. Arctic Securities also host Carlsen's official online blog. Arctic Securities is an employee-owned investment bank, independent of all other financial institutions, with competence, integrity, discretion, agility and independent analysis as it's core values that it states to be represented by chess prodigy Magnus Carlsen.)

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Super Internet Link for Live Anand - Carlsen World Chess Championship 2013 in Hyatt Regency Ballroom

Chennai: FIDE vice-president Israel Gelfer has said, "As millions of fans from all over the world will be watching the Anand - Carlsen World Chess Championship 2013 live from various parts of the world through the Internet we have ensured that the connections were particularly of high quality. We are going to ensure that the server does not crash during the event."

All India Chess Federation CEO Bharat Singh said live video streaming of the match as well as live commentary on the internet will be made available.

Israel Gelfer was speaking to journalists in Chennai after inspecting arrangements made at the World Chess Championship 2013 venue Hyatt Regency. He told journalists at a press conference that the upcoming match would be one of the best, if not the best, in the entire history of world chess championship events.

Gelfer said he was fully satisfied with the arrangements. Both Carlsen and Anand's team have also said they were satisfied with the arrangements made for the historic chess match.

Gelfer recalled FIDE's association with Hyatt Group of Hotels as early as 2000 during the World Championship match held in New Delhi. 

____________________

The 434 sq m (4670 sq ft) pillar-less ballroom, with an 18 ft high ceiling, is divisible into two soundproof sections. The ballroom has a dedicated entrance at the main porch and a spacious pre-function area of 391 sq m (4208 sq ft). Beautifully done with contemporary chandeliers dotting it’s ceiling; the ballroom is a visual treat. (Sources said the ballroom would be used for the Anand - Carlsen World Chess Championship 2013.)

____________________

FIDE vice-president D V Sundar also told journalists that arrangements had been made for 350 spectators to witness the match. He said a glass partition would be erected to separate the players and the spectators in order to ensure that the players do not get disturbed by the audience.

Side chess events at Anand - Carlsen World Chess Championship 2013 All-India Chess Federation Secretary V Hariharan told journalists about various other chess activities to be organised during the World Chess Championship 2013.

Hariharan said there would be a Women Grandmasters' event, an Open International Grandmasters' tournament, National Under-9 Chess Championship as well as a host of other events during November.

The first would be a 'Beach Blitz', wherein a Blitz event (5 minutes per player) will be organised at the Marina Beach beneath colourful umbrellas.

Hyatt Regency General Manager Sunjae Sharma said that Carlsen loved Indian delicacies during his stay at the Hyatt. He said that Hyatt Regency has a Norwegian chef and that Carlsen and his team members were very comfortable with the food served at the Hotel. -- Zainab Raza Undulusi

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Will we have Zero-Tolerance Rule at the Anand - Carlsen World Chess Championship 2013?

Is the zero-tolerance rule going to be implemented at the Anand - Carlsen World Chess Championship in November, 2013? Would Carlsen forfeit any game if he forgets his way through the elevators, or would Anand forfeit a game if he gets late by a few minutes because of the traffic jam outside the Hyatt Regency, Chennai?

Interestingly, FIDE vice-president DV Sundar, has said, "Several things would get clearer once the world body announces the Chief Arbiter for the Viswanathan Anand - Magnus Carlsen World Chess Championship Match in November. The arbiter will have a meeting with both players before finalising two important points in the match regulations."

"The arbiter has to decide whether agreed draws will be allowed before 30 moves (with exception of three-fold repetition etc) and whether zero-tolerance policy will be applicable about the starting time of the games," Sundar said.

FIDE LAWS of CHESS

The FIDE Laws of Chess are evaluated every four years and updated if required. The latest set of laws of chess as of today came into effect September 9, 2012 (including the law relating to the zero-tolerance rule that came into effect in 2009 without being updated in 2012):

6.7 a. Any player who arrives at the chessboard after the start of the session shall lose the game unless the arbiter decides to postpone the start of the game due to unforeseen circumstances. Thus the default time is 0 minutes. The rules of a competition may specify a different default time.b. If the rules of a competition specify in advance a different default time, the following shall apply. If neither player is present initially, the player who has the white pieces shall lose all the time that elapses until he arrives, unless the rules of the competition specify or the arbiter decides otherwise.

The law first came into effect July 1st, 2009. A player who arrives just a few seconds late at his board, loses the game. At that time, the FIDE General Assembly actually could not come to an agreement on the zero-tolerance rule and, eventually, the Presidential Board decided to implement the rule.

Before 2009, the law stated

6.6 If neither player is present initially, the player who has the white pieces shall lose all the time that elapses until he arrives; unless the rules of the competition specify or the arbiter decides otherwise.6.7 Any player who arrives at the chessboard more than one hour after the scheduled start of the session shall lose the game unless the rules of the competition specify or the arbiter decides otherwise.

The big difference between the two is the clause 'or the arbiter decides otherwise' which was knocked off.

The Criticism and some unfortunate instances

The zero-tolerance rule has ever since been criticised. Some organisers have implemented it way too strictly, an example being the recent the Chess World Cup in Tromso, Norway. (Read Kasparov's comments here on Jorge Cori's 'misfortune' at the World Cup.) 

The 2008 Dresden Olympiad witnessed eight forfeits due to the zero-tolerance rule. 

Even former Women's World Chess Champion Hou Yifan of China has suffered such a forfeit. Then a 15-year-old only woman participant at the event, Yifan forfeited her game against Liang Chong in Round 8 of the Chinese Chess Championship, 2009. 

Hou was in the hall, had filled out her scoresheet, but was not sitting at her board when the clock showed the starting time as 14:00:00h. She was late by five seconds! 

At the same tournament, Ding Liren became the youngest Chinese Chess Champion with benefits coming through the zero-tolerance rule. 

In March 2012, Grandmaster Mamedyarov was forfeited for arriving at the board 10 seconds after the officially stated start time at the at the European Chess Championship in Plovdov, Bulgaria.

The zero-tolerance rule does not specify whether a chess player should actually be seated behind the board, or standing nearby would do! 

Supposedly, the German Chess Federation is not too strict about the rule and allows players' presence in the premises of the building where the tournament is being held. Since FIDE has allowed organisers to decide beforehand whether they would like to implement the zero-tolerance rule, one example to quote is Canada. None of the chess tournament organisers in Canada have ever implemented the zero-tolerance rule in the country so far.

In India, many organisers prefer not to implement the rule in open tournaments, though it is strictly followed in all national championships. India's youngest-ever national chess champion G Akash benefited from the zero-tolerance rule when, in Round 11, at the national championship in October, 2013, he won by forfeit because the leader of the pack, M R Venkatesh, reached the board three minutes late. Venkatesh was caught in rush-hour traffic in Kolkata!

Following representation by the Association of Chess Professionals, the Presidential Board in Sofia, 2010 confirmed their previous decision that organisers of events where the zero tolerance rule was in operation should be obliged to provide participants with the best conditions in order that they can respect the rule.

A large digital countdown clock must be allowed when there are more than 30 participants. Announcements via microphone are required five minutes before start of games when there are less than 30 contestants. A large digital clock has become a tradition of sorts for all top-level chess tournaments. But, don't the players have to be in the hall to be able to see the clock at least, and then make a dash for the table?

"I am just dead nervous about the zero-tolerance rule!" Magnus Carlsen had remarked about arriving early for games at the 2013 World Championship Candidates Tournament in London. Carlsen has also emphatically said he is against the spirit of short draws and chess fans would not witness anything close to dull draws like in the Anand - Gelfand World Chess Championship 2012. The zero-tolerance rule, or the Sofia rule (against draws before a particular number of moves) did not apply at the Anand - Gelfand event in Moscow. 

World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand has always maintained that he prefers to skip the Chess Olympiads because of the zero-tolerance rule (and Swiss system of play).

However, Anand is possibly okay with the zero-tolerance rule at the World Chapionship!

The Hindu quoted Anand in July, 2012: “There are lots of strong rules, like the zero-tolerance rule, that simply make playing unpleasant for no benefit,” explains the five-time World champion. It is fine to have the zero-tolerance rule in the World championships and elite tournaments. But the rule makes little sense in the Olympiad where you have 2000 players!”

The intrinsic question remains the same and that's not just in chess: Rules are for people, or people are for the rules.

We hope neither Anand, nor Carlsen, lose any of their games due to a forfeit as per the zero-tolerance rule. If such were a thing were to happen...

... Or, maybe, the World Championship arbiters won't implement the rule at all in Chennai for the epic Anand - Carlsen clash! -- Zainab Raza Undulusi

P.S. The Armenia Chess Federation had announced in July, 2013, on their official website that FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov had appointed IA Ashot Vardapetyan of Armenia as the chief arbiter for the Anand - Carlsen World Championship Match. Vardapetyan was also the chief arbiter of the World Championship Match Anand – Gelfand (Moscow, 2012).

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Legendary Chess Tutor, Exciting Young Pupil: Kasparov on Coaching Carlsen (Video from 2009)

Garry Kasparov and Magnus Carlsen - That's how you study chess: The photo that first appeared on Chessbase and would go viral on the Internet before settling down permanently in chess history books.

Chess great Garry Kasparov on World Chess Championship Challenger Magnus Carlsen: This interview was taken in September 2009 when the greatest chess player of our times, 13th World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov, "confessed" and spoke about training Norwegian chess star Magnus Carlsen. The interview - possibly the most authentic and frank one on the subject of the Kasparov-Carlsen tie-up - was taken by Mig Greengard. Later, Carlsen and Kasparov went separate ways (which, of course is another story).

On being asked by journalists in Chennai whether Carlsen was training with his 'former' mentor Garry Kasparov for the upcoming World Chess Championship clash against Viswanathan Anand, Carlsen had nonchalantly replied, "Maybe! who knows!" 

It is typical of World Chess Championship players to keep the list of their seconds secret... possibly warranted by the very nature of the sport that requires considerable home preparation. For now, sit back and enjoy what Garry Kasparov had to say about Magnus Carlsen back then during their cooperation:



When 13th World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov retired in 2005 he had been an undisputed world number one from 1985 to 2000. Carlsen went on to break that record later. At the time of Carlsen's training with Kasparov, Carlsen's manager Espen Agdestein had said: "This is the king training his crown prince. While Kasparov is a living legend, Carlsen is the biggest attraction that exists in the chess world today. This is the Dream Team." Carlsen spent 14 days at Kasparov's summer residence in Croatia and later joined him in Norway.

"With so many (chess tournament) victories coming relatively easily to his immense talent and fighting spirit, the final crucial ingredient of relentless work will guarantee his place in history," Garry Kasparov had told Norwegian newspaper VG. "In six months of working with Magnus I have seen in him many of the qualities of the great champions," Kasparov had said. Carlsen's father Henrik Carlsen translated the Norwegian news article for ChessBase and also provided some historic photos. 

Modern chess' most exciting young talent later terminated his contract with the legendary Garry Kasparov... or, so the world was told!

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World Chess Championship Contract: Anand's Team Protests 'Secret' Illness Clause for Carlsen # Video

It's a piece of chess news that's been aired on Indian television channel Times Now. Sources from Viswanathan Anand's team told Times Now that the illness clause was against the spirit of the championship. Journalists were also stopped from discussing contract details at Carlsen's press conference in Chennai. However, Carlsen's manager Espen Agdestein had, earlier told journalists that the illness clause "is good for everybody. If Vishy or Magnus gets sick for some reason, there will be a delay instead of a game forfeited."

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World Chess Championship Seconds: Anand's Fresh Approach without Kasimdzhanov, Nielsen

World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand will go into the World Chess Championship 2013 without two of his main team members: Rustam Kasimdzhanov of Uzbekistan and Peter Heine Nielsen of Denmark.

Rustam Kasidzhanov was World Champion Viswanathan Anand's second for the successful World Chess Championships of October 2008 against Vladimir Kramnik, April-ay 2010 against Veselin Topalov and ay 2012 against Boris Gelfand.

Peter Heine Nielsen worked with World Champion Viswanathan Anand from 2002-2012 which covered the World Championships in Mexico 2007, Bonn 2008, Sofia 2010 and Moscow 2012. Nielsen coached World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen in 2013 and Carlsen won the Candidates in London to earn the right to challenge Vishy Anand for his forthcoming title match in Chennai this November. Nielsen also coached Carlsen in Khanty-Mansiysk 2005 when Carlsen became the youngest-ever chess player to qualify for the Candidate matches. Nielsen also worked with Carlsen in 2007 for Wijk aan Zee.

Here are all the quotes about how the situation has come about with Anand preparing for the upcoming World Chess Championship 2013 with a new team. 

Rustam Kasimdzhanov on the sidelines of the Zug Grand Prix
-- During my work with Anand our relations were kind of intense. But after the match we came to a decision to have a sort of rest from each other. Maybe Anand needed rest from my company even more than me.

-- I think three World championship matches are enough for me. They were all very tough – one tougher than the other. At the end I think I deserved some rest (smiles).

World No. 1 Carlsen's manager Espen Agdestein to Norwegian journalists
-- We cannot use Peter after he has worked so long with Anand. That would not be good, morally, even if there are no problems legally. Peter is therefore not going to work with us in preparation (for the World Chess Championship 2013 match) if Magnus qualifies as World Championship challenger.

-- Magnus plays best when he has lots of energy and desire to
gamble. Therefore, we do not want to change his routines too much.
At the same time Magnus will improve his openings for the
Candidates, and here Peter will help him.

-- We are please to have Peter Heine on the team, he knows the Scandinavian mentality. 

Peter Heine Nielsen quoted in Chessbase

-- Its been ten fantastic years with Team Vishy, culminating in four consecutive World Championship titles.

Aruna, Anand's wife and manager, quoted in Times of India

-- He is preparing for the match with his team outside Chennai. You will come to know about it only when the match starts. It's not that they left. Nielsen is working with a different person now and Kasim has moved on. They are still Anand's close friends and well-wishers. Chess theory moves faster. And January's ideas could become redundant in June. It's constantly evolving. Having said that, it's no secret that when you train together you share an intimate relationship. You get closer to the person and his mental make-up. (Photo: Team Anand, Moscow 2012: Peter Heine Nielsen, Aruna Anand, Viswanathan Anand, Rustam Kasimdzahnov, Radek Wojtaszek, Surya Ganguly, Eric van Reem and Hans-Walter Schmitt.)

Also Read:

-- World Chess Champion five times: The Anand Timeline

-- Not bothered about Carlsen's trainers: Anand

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Magnus Carlsen Interview: Top Quotes on Anand, Computer Chess, Chennai, Confidence to Win!

As expected, World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen took up acres of space on the Sports Pages of the Indian print media these last few days. Carlsen, with his team, was in India to inspect World Chess Championship 2013 venue for his match against World Champion Viswanathan Anand later this year. Here are some of the choicest quotes Indian journalists liked, wrote about and pushed to Page 1 of their publications:

-- I can speak for myself, and I am not part of the computer generation. I grew up with a chess board and books. (When asked if younger players such as Hikaru Nakamura, Fabiano Luigi Caruana, Sergey Karjakin and he are more computer-centric, as regards preparation and the way they approach the game as compared to Viswanathan Anand, Vladimir Kramnik, Boris Gelfand and others.)

-- It was a great learning experience for me. For the 2010 match against Topalov, I offered a little advice but Anand did not follow it! You will really appreciate how great a player Anand is when you interact with him (Query on working with Anand in a previous World Chess Championship event.)

-- The Russians are still a force in chess! (The last time two non-Russian-speaking players played for the World title was in 1921 with Jose Raul Capablanca versus Emmanuel Lasker in Havana, Cuba.)

-- More people in Norway are following my play and Norwegian chess players are following more keenly. On its part, the Norwegian Government is supporting the Chess Olympiad 2014 in Norway.

-- I am following it as a chess player and I don’t have any favourites. (About the ongoing FIDE World Cup in Tromso, Norway.) 

-- I respect Anand. But I don’t fear him. Am pleased with all the arrangements here.

-- Of course, I should recognise that Anand is the World Champion. He is a great player. But the kind of form he is in now gives me confidence. I have been successful in the last few outings with him. 

-- As along as I am in top shape and work on the game, I think, I have every chance to win. I am sure anyone will go into a world championship with a supreme belief that you will win. I also will come back to Chennai with the belief that everything is in my favour. 

-- I would have been more comfortable playing in my hometown, so local support would surely help Anand. The home town advantage might not be big for a chess player compared to other sportspersons, but then, I believe that Anand would be starting the match with a psychological advantage. (On choice of World Chess Championship 2013 venue.) 

-- I think any match for the world championship will be very tough. He is one of the all-time best players and he will be eager to show his game strength in his hometown, Chennai

-- If I am able to have more energy and keep my concentration, then there is all the possibility that I will win. Similarly, Anand has been in the game for a longer time and I don’t think he would be surprised by anything. He will surely be in his finest shape for the match and I will also concentrate on doing my best. 

-- He's is a special player. I hope to get the better of him. He is a great player and the world champion. Yes, it has given me confidence having been successful in our last meetings. But there will be a different Anand here (for the World Championship match).

-- I don't know (how to look at it now). What I do know is that I was not motivated to play then for various reasons. This time I was quite motivated to play the qualification and also motivated for the match. (On pulling out from the previous World Chess Championship cycle.)

-- To play well in a match is my main motivation. I'm looking forward to the match. And it's going to be a great match.

-- Kramnik has a serious reputation of being a loose cannon. So I won't read too much into his assertion of Anand. (On Kramnik recently saying Anand feared Carlsen.)

-- In general, it's perhaps more appropriate to impose fines rather than making a player forfeit the game. (FIDE Zero-Tolerance policy on reaching the board for start of play.)

-- In general I try to win... and by all means. And sometimes it's too much, sometimes I overstep. But majority of the times, it pays off. Attaining balance, I guess, is something that you have within. (Now isn't that a typical Indian metaphysical statement!?)

-- I don't know. This theory itself is a bit inflated. Both Anand and I deserve our rating. (On recent chess ratings inflation.)

-- Of course it (Toiletgate: the world chess championship 2006 cheating controversy between Veselin Topalov and Vladimir Kramnik) was not good for the game. It just got out of hand. And I genuinely hope there will be no such controversies this time. Anand always behaves correctly. Everything would be decided on the chess board and that's how it should be.

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Magnus Carlsen Video: World Chess Championship 2013 Venue Chennai Visit

Leading Indian chess videographer Vijay Kumar is known for his videos of world chess events, particularly every single one featuring World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand. Here is his video of World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen and his team's visit to inspect the venue of the upcoming World Title match in Chennai, India from November 6-26. 

They say you cannot go back from India without a lasting impression and without being treated as an honoured guest. Is India going to be lucky for Carlsen?

The welcome was traditional, the arrangements up to the mark and the excitement... well, watch it for yourself! And, do keep track of all the expressions on the chess prodigy's face. 

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Chennai: Carlsen Loses Four Games in Simul; Happy with World Chess Match Venue Arrangements

Chennai, August 19: World No. 1 Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen has said he is satisfied with the arrangements at the World Championship 2013 venue in Chennai for the match against World Champion Viswanathan Anand. Carlsen and his team inspected the venue today. The 22-year-old talent was accompanied by his manager Espen Agdestein and his father Henrik Carlsen.

"I am happy with the arrangements and look forward to playing against Anand. I respect him a lot," Carlsen said.

Carlsen said his November 7-28 contest against Anand will be very interesting and that it would be one of the finest matches in the history of chess. He also said he was confident of snatching the World title from Anand.

"When playing a World Championship match, you should have supreme confidence in your abilities," Carlsen said speaking to journalists here. 

In reference to the World Championship 2010 match in which Anand beat Veselin Topalov, Carlsen said he had not had any major role to play in that match. However, Carlsen said, he worked with Anand during 2007-2008 in his World Championship matches.

Carlsen did not reply to questions relating to Garry Kasparov, the role of Peter Heine Nielsen, one of Anand's major seconds all along, who quit early this year and helped Carlsen prepare for the London Candidates. 

Carlsen also refused to comment on the controversial "illness clause" in his contract for the World Chess Championship match.

"As such, Nielsen shall not have any role in this match as he has been close to both the players. Though Anand will have the advantage of playing in his home turf, his recent encounters against me have given me enough confidence," Carlsen said.

Carlsen also played a simul against 20 young talented players in the 6-17 age-group at the MOP Vaishnav College, Nungambakkam. Carlsen spent around two and a half hours in the simul winning 10 games and drawing six. Carlsen also lost to four youngsters. 

The 10-year-old FM L N Ram Aravind, multiple National Champion R Vaishali, National Under 13 Champion N R Visakh and Commonwealth Bronze medallist G Jaswant forced the World Championship Challenger to resign. Carlsen was all praise for the children. 

Aruna, Anand's wife and manager said: the World Champion was not in Chennai at the moment and hence Carlsen would return without meeting him. -- Zainab Raza Undulusi

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Magnus Carlsen Reaches Chennai 'Secretly' for World Chess Championship Venue Inspection (Updated)

Here are the first photos from World No. 1 Carlsen's Facebook page where he has posted the first photos after reaching Chennai, India on August 18.

Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen is visiting Chennai to inspect the venue of the World Chess Championship 2013 to be held from November 6-26.

He will also hold a simul in Chennai to help promote chess for children between 7 to 17 years of age. His opponents will be 20 children from the South Indian State of Tamil Nadu (of which Chennai is the capital city) who have won medals in International chess competitions.

Carlsen, in his FB post, along with the photos writes: Just arrived Chennai and got a very friendly and hospitable welcome! — in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

Arriving airport in Chennai

Met by friendly people at the hotel!

The view from my hotel room

Photo captions are World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen's comments. Carlsen’s is accompanied by his father Henrik Carlsen and his manager Espen Agdestein. World Champion Viswanathan Anand's wife and manager Aruna has already inspected the World Championship venue.

Magnus Carlsen was received by FIDE vice-president from India DV Sundar, All-India Chess Federation (AICF) honorary secretary V.Hariharan, AICF CEO Bharat Singh Chauhan and Tamil Nadu State Chess Federation vice-president B.Muragavel. Carlsen is expected to fly out late August 20.

Carlsen's secret visit reported in top Norwegian newspaper nrk.no by journalist Daniel Eriksen

CHENNAI (NRK.no), Magnus Carlsen (23) was flown into the World Cup city of Chennai in the middle of the night in fear that chess fans would create chaos at the airport in India.

We were told that the landing time was strictly secret, says manager Espen Agdestein to NRK.

Photo: Daniel Eriksen / NRK

Carlsen reached Chennai Sunday at 03:30 local time with his manager, chef and father. The timing was anything but ideal, but the International Chess Federation, FIDE, thought it was absolutely necessary. "They were afraid that it would be difficult to get from the airport to the hotel if this information came out," says manager Espen Agdestein to NRK.

Photo: Daniel Eriksen / NRK

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World Chess Championship 2013 in Chennai: Has Anand already predicted Carlsen's Victory? (updated)

Photo: AICF

Did World Champion Viswanathan Anand already predict Magnus Carlsen winning the World Chess Championship 2013 title in Chennai? Here are some interesting quotes by Viswanathan Anand on Carlsen. Particular to note is what Anand said about Carlsen in 2008.

April 3, 2013 to DNA
Anand: In my opinion, Carlsen is the greatest talent I have seen. He is really unique in that sense. And that I think is absolutely huge. It will be a very, very big challenge. I understand the magnitude of my task.
...
The broad outlook of our game is similar. The prospect of facing Carlsen is a new one for me in many, many ways. I will have to figure out my strategy.

April 3, 2013 to The Indian Express

Is there a favourite going into the match?
Anand: I have to say that most people who look at the two of us will conclude that Magnus is the outright favourite. I'm cool with that. It doesn't really worry me. I'm fully aware of the magnitude of the task facing me, and Magnus' rank and rating speak for themselves. Having said that I don't feel any obligation to follow the predictions. That's what we are playing the match for. To have a chance to write our own script.

How different will this be from your previous WCC matches?
Anand: Firstly, he is not from my generation. There is a difference in age and outlook. When I played Kramnik, Topalov and Gelfand, I read them in a certain way. And even then, I thought that if I end up playing Vlady this time, it would be a different Vlady from the one I played before. Carlsen is from a different generation and he is also one of the most talented players from any generation. He will be ridiculously difficult to play against, yeah.

July 4, 2013 to The Indian Express
Anand: Carlsen has shown himself to be a resourceful and dangerous opponent, so I'll have to work really hard. I felt that the tournaments indicated a lot of problem areas, even ones I haven't mentioned or revealed. You feel some concerns at the board and it is difficult to replicate them at home. You play these tournaments and have lots of thoughts and ideas about what you want to do afterwards. That's the most I can take away from them.

The loss against Carlsen (Tal Memorial), how difficult was that to take?
Anand: That was one of the worst. Not only did I lose, I lost embarrassingly. The game was over in just a couple of hours. It was a really, really off day. It's a pity. Something clearly just went wrong and I have some idea what it is. I will work at fixing that problem, but it is one among many problems that have cropped up.

The significance of the loss?
Anand: What can I tell you... It has some significance. In the end I would say the match (world championship) begins at 0-0. I'm happy I got it over with in June rather than it happening in November. Ideally, I would have played a better game, a better tournament. A good tournament result would definitely have been better than what I had but that is life. I don't want to fret about it.

Surprisingly, Carlsen was caught out in a couple of end games (against Wang Hao and Fabiano Caruana) this year, his supposed strength. What did you make of it?
Not only were these tournaments an experience for me, but for him as well. I have a lot of material to work on, a lot of material from my games and a lot from his. I noticed some of the things you've mentioned but I'll have to take a much more complete look and spend a lot of time on that.

January 10, 2008 to Spiegel

In recent times the Norwegian Magnus Carlsen has been in the headlines. He is seventeen and at the beginning of the month he was, for five days, the number one in the unofficial world rankings. How good is he?
Anand: He will sooner or later become World Champion. I like him, he is a Monty Python fan, just like me.

We don't know what notes about Monty Python the two have been exchanging lately, but this is for sure. Chennai is Carlsen's best shot yet. Carlsen will have to win the 2014 World Championship candidates if he loses in Chennai and wants to try a crack at the top title once again. Winning the 2014 World Championship Candidates might not be easy second time in a row for Carlsen considering the line-up! 

Anand and Carlsen are sure to showcase their best in Chennai. If Carlsen were to win, Anand would be happy enough to pass on his mantle to a worthy candidate whose success he himself has predicted. If Anand were to retain his title, chess fans would know the next chess generation has not arrived!




Post this article we received following tweet. Thereafter is our answer. Don't forget to vote (in the sidebar on right) on who do you think will win

EastMidlandsChess ‏@EMidlandsChess 2h
@bandwindia Happy to build up expectations on Carlsen? Is Anand underdog, despite his wealth of WCC Match experience? 

Chess Magazine B&W ‏@bandwindia 1h
@EMidlandsChess nt buildin hype. Anand has achieved all. One day he will pass on the title. Q: Is it now? :) 

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