Anand vs Gelfand 2012 World Chess Championship: Best moments Chess Training Video Part 1

Here is the first part of a special chess training video series featuring the best moments from the World Chess Championship 2012: Viswanathan Anand vs Boris Gelfand in Moscow, Russia. This instructive video is by special arrangement with Grandmaster Igor Smirnov and we hope it gives you tips and tricks to improve your own chess. Don't forget to tune in at our site for the remaining parts of this chess training series. 

 




 

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Zurich Chess Challenge 2014 with Anand and Carlsen: After India, it's Battlefield Switzerland

The Zurich Chess Challenge 2014 will be the first encounter between India’s Viswanathan Anand and Norway’s Magnus Carlsen after their forthcoming world championship match in Chennai. 

From Wednesday, 29 January to Tuesday, 4 February 2014, they will compete in the 3rd Zurich Chess Challenge along with four other great chess stars Levon Aronian
(Arm), Hikaru Nakamura (USA), Fabiano Caruana (It) and Boris Gelfand (Isr). With an average of 2794 Elo points (according to the September 13 rating list) this is going to be the strongest tournament in chess history. 

The main sponsor is Oleg Skvortsov of the International Gemological Laboratories, Moscow, with the Zurich Chess Club acting as organizer.

The first Zurich Chess Challenge in 2012 was a match between Kramnik and Aronian. The second event in 2013 was a double-round robin with Kramnik, Anand, Caruana and Gelfand. For the 2014 edition, a blitz tournament will determine the color distribution. A round-robin tournament of five rounds with a classical time control is then followed by a rapid tournament with colors reversed on the last day of play. A won game in the classical tournament counts 2 points, a draw 1 point. Wins in the rapid tournament count 1 point and draws half a point. All games will be commented by Yannick Pelletier and Werner Hug and broadcast live via Internet.

Participants
Magnus Carlsen (Norway, Elo 2862, Nr 1)
Levon Aronian (Armenia, Elo 2813, Nr 2)
Fabiano Caruana (Italy, Elo 2779, Nr 5)
Vishwanathan Anand (India, Elo 2775, Nr 7)
Hikaru Nakamura (USA, Elo 2772, Nr 9 )
Boris Gelfand (Israel, Elo 2764, Nr 11)

Schedule
Daily from 29 January to 4 February 2014.
Spectators are welcome, entrance free.

Main sponsor
IGC International Gemological Laboratories is a Russian institute providing gemological services, such as diamond grading reports, enhanced diamonds identification, man-made/synthetic diamonds and imitation detection as well as certification of diamonds, gemstones and jewelry in the Russian Federation. IGC is the Russian branch of GCI – a group of gemological laboratories located worldwide.

Co-sponsors
Savoy Chess Corner, Zurich Chess Club (founded in 1809, the oldest chess club of the world)

Viswanathan Anand has also signed up for the London Chess Classic in December, 2013. In case Carlsen also attends the event, then the duo would meet in London before Zurich Chess Challenge, 2014.

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Sinquefield Chess Cup: 3 Warnings from Magnus Carlsen to Viswanathan Anand for World Title Match

Magnus Carlsen has won the Sinquefield Chess Cup with 4.5 points out of six, a full point ahead of the rest of the field and with a rating performance of 2966. In the process, not only does the World No. 1 pick up $70,000, but also precious eight rating points to stand only two points short of his own record.

Carlsen raced ahead of Gata Kamsky, Hikaru Nakamura and Levon Aronian to take the trophy in the four-player Sinquefield Chess Cup. Is that a good result? Carlsen said, "Any time you pick up rating points, generally it's a good result overall!"

Speaking about the next event being the World Chess Championship 2013 in Chennai, in November, against Viswanathan Anand, Carlsen said, "I don't have too many worries." 

Viswanathan Anand would have noted three things for sure about Carlsen's play:

-- Carlsen won't accept draws easily: In the final round, Levon Aronian actually outplayed the World No. 1 in the opening and later, in an even position, proposed a draw. Carlsen did not take it even though the draw guaranteed him tournament victory. Aronian himself wasn't that surprised Carlsen turned down the draw offer, "We're not really playing for money here, we're playing chess". 

Carlsen said, "When I finally had the better position, I wanted to use it" about rejecting the draw offer. Just in case Aronian had managed to beat Carlsen in the last round, the tournament would have gone into a three-way playoff with Carlsen, Nakamura and Aronian. In any case Carlsen has always maintained that chess games at top level should be played right to the finish. The credit for the fighting spirit also goes to Carlsen's fitness regime. Seventy moves against Aronian were "nothing" for Carlsen. He's as fit as Hercules!

-- Beware the Carlsen Passion: Anand could consider wearing dark shades: The only person out of the three top Grandmasters playing Carlsen, in Saint Louis, who could get away with draws was Hikaru Nakamura. He turned up for both his games against Carlsen in sunglasses. The US No. 1 later tweeted about his draws: No hypnotism, better chess. 

That sparked off quite a joke and rumour about Carlsen using chess hypnosis. Both Gata Kamsky and Levon Aronian suffered crushing defeats at the hands of the World No. 1 in the Sinquefield Cup. Nakamura was the only one to escape with draws.

But, jokes apart, it's about how intensely Carlsen feels about the sport of chess. If that passion and intensity could be defined as chess hypnosis, so be it. That spirit has actually revived chess across the world when everyone was grumbling that chess being dull was unable to attract sponsors. If a chess practitioner can come out and rekindle the world's passion with chess, none of us would like to complain.  

-- Carlsen's opening prep will be stronger: Grandmasters around the world have consistently criticised Carlsen's opening play that wavers from theory and goes into uncharted territory even landing the World No. 1 in trouble pretty quickly after the start of a game. However, Carlsen makes up for that lapse with his tremendous fighting spirit and deep understanding of the middlegame and endgame. After his victory at the Sinquefield Cup, Carlsen did say he would be working on the openings! Anand and his team would surely have noted that remark. The World No. 1 still has about 50 full days to work on that aspect of his play.

-- Rajat Khanna

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Viswanathan Anand's Secret to Winning Chess: Emotional Calm and Physical Fitness

To Viswanathan Anand, being emotionally calm and physically fit is extremely important, in chess and in life. Here is an interview of the World Chess Champion after winning the world title in 2009 (with Sangeetha Mathew of Complete Wellbeing). 

All the quotes have certainly not lost their relevance even as we head towards what is going to be Vishy's Anand's toughest world chess championship yet! We decided to link to this interview because of the uniqueness of some of the questions. Enjoy the interview if you are a fan of World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand. 

How is the person behind the legendary name?
I am just a normal guy who got good at chess. I am laid back and love to chill at home when I’m not playing. I like listening to music and reading on politics, science and economics.

You started young…

I started playing chess when I was six and just enjoyed it. I used to play at a chess club on weekends. I particularly enjoyed playing blitz games and it’s there that I started playing fast.
Was it very difficult back then?

In the 80s, India still didn’t have a Grandmaster so we didn’t have the benefit of professional coaches. So till 1991, I trained by myself.

For my tournaments, I had to travel a lot in Europe. And in those days, it was much more difficult to travel. You had to get a lot of permissions for foreign exchange, and other things. But my parents would try and see that all these problems were sorted so that I could enjoy chess.

As for me, I didn’t really mind all the travelling, and actually enjoyed travelling and playing in tournaments. I just wanted to play… so any opportunity I got, I played.

Were there challenges and sacrifices?
Well, every sportsperson has to make a lot of sacrifices and choices along the way. And in each stage of your career, the challenge differs and you have to rearrange your talent to be on top.

Since I was the only Indian in most tournaments, information was more difficult to access. As an Indian, you were behind the Soviet Grand masters in preparation. Today, thanks to technology and the Internet, there is a more level-playing field and geographical locations don’t matter much.

How important is mental fitness to you? What do you do to stay mentally fit?

Quite. I think mental fatigue is more difficult to handle than physical fatigue. When the body is tired, we can sleep really well. But if the mind is tired or worried, it’s very difficult to sleep. I try to keep my mind calm and happy. So before an event, I try to switch off and take some time for myself—take a small holiday or do something different just to recharge my batteries.

And what do you do to stay physically fit?

Being healthy is very important especially in sports. In chess, since we have to prepare for about 7 – 8 hours a day, physical fitness is as essential as mental fitness.

Also as sportspeople, we travel for 6 – 8 months to different countries. If we are not healthy, our bodies will not be able to keep up. Very simply, even if you have something as common as ‘common cold’, you can’t compete at your 100 per cent. So we try to improve our stamina and our general resistance to withstand the strain of competing.

How important is eating right for you? Do you have any secret brain foods?

Eating right is important for a healthy life. I don’t really have any brain foods. But I try to eat correctly and avoid heavy foods before a game. I try to get a good breakfast and a light lunch when I am playing or working.

Moving on, does your play get affected by your emotions?

For me, as it is for everyone, feelings determine performance. Only when you are happy or feel good about yourself can you play well. I try to keep my life simple, as chess itself is very complicated.

Rapid fire

Favourite book…

One to Nine: The Inner Life of Numbers by Andrew Hodges
Favourite music… 

Music of the ’90s
Favourite cuisine… 

Thai, Indian, Italian…but I am a foodie, so I like anything that’s different and tasty.
Role model… 

Bobby Fischer & Mikhail Tal
Health is… 

the ultimate necessity
Positive attitude… 

is the best companion
One driving philosophy… 

Enjoy what you do and relish each challenge
Best de-stresser… 

sleep and music
Happiest moment till date… 

Any victory is a happy moment
Relationship with God… 

I pray and believe that it gives me strength
If Spain is home, then India is… 

India is home, Spain is a base for training and tournaments.

What makes you most happy?When I do something well, it gives me immense satisfaction; I feel very happy. In life, there are many things that make one happy—being with family, travelling, competing.

What do family and friends mean to you?
They make life special. Family and friends like you for what you are rather than ‘who’ you are. I meet up with school friends often and after the first five minutes, I stop being Viswanathan Anand, and become just Anand who sat in the second row in high school.

Any really close friends?
I have some friends who have been more like family. When I used to travel in Europe for tournaments, I found it very difficult to go back to India and return between tournaments.

Nieves and Maurice, my closest friends in Spain, would insist that I stay with them. They more or less adopted me and I am more like a son to them.

And your family…

I have been quite fortunate to have a lovely family. My parents never forced me—either to play chess or to study. They allowed me to enjoy my childhood. Even when chess was taking me away from school and college, they were very understanding.

Now, my wife travels with me and it’s nice to have someone with you, whom you can trust and who shares your joys and defeats.

Does failure affect you?

It’s impossible to be unaffected. When failure stops affecting you, you stop being a sportsperson. I try to be practical: learn what went wrong, and swiftly move on.

How do you handle the criticism that follows failures?

I have won every rapid title many times over. Someone once told me that it’s news when I lose a game and not when I win… it’s strange.

I think if you lose one game, it’s not the end of anything. If I kept answering to what each one said, I would never have had time to be World Champion.

Winning in chess requires strategy. Does one need strategy to succeed in life as well?

Of course! Both chess and life are inter-related. My strategy [in both] is to be happy, enjoy what I do and constantly learn.

Once you feel you are invincible, you become vulnerable. So I try to learn new areas in chess and experiment with my play. At first, the results may not be as you expect, but you have to hang in there.

Your advice to Complete Wellbeing readers…

Each one has a dream. You should follow your dream, have ambition and focus. Moreover, you should follow your own dream and not someone else’s. The path is never smooth but you should learn to enjoy the journey.

This interview was first published in 

the October 2009 issue of Complete Wellbeing.

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Gary Kasparov on Carlsen's Chess Magic for the Time List of 100 Most Influential People in the World

In April, 2013 chess world's No. 1 was on the Time annual list of 100 most influential people in the world that includes artists and leaders to pioneers, titans and icons! Each personality had a short intro written by another personality in the field. Here is what legendary world chess champion Garry Kasparov wrote for Magnus Carlsen:

Chess history is best viewed through the game’s evolution: the Romantic Era of the 19th century, the Hypermodernism of the early 20th, the post–World War II dominance of the Soviet School. The elite chess players of today are of no school. They hail from all over the world, as illustrated by current world champion Viswanathan Anand of India and young Norwegian Magnus Carlsen, who is due to challenge Anand for the championship this year. I had the opportunity to train Carlsen in 2009, and his intuitive style conserves the mystique of chess at a time when every CPU-enhanced fan thinks the game is easy. Carlsen is as charismatic and independent as he is talented. If he can rekindle the world’s fascination with the royal game, we will soon be living in the Carlsen Era.

-- Kasparov is a former chess 

world champion and a political activist

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Does Chess Prodigy World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen practice Chess Hypnotism?

“I just felt like doing something different,” Nakamura said with a smile. “Why not? Life is short, might as well have some fun every once in a while, considering how overly serious chess seems to be at times.”

Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura at the Sinquefield Chess Cup Round 3 in Saint Louis on Thursday, September 12. 

The tweet and quote are by American Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura in reference to his "sunglasses/futuristic" look when he turned up for the third round at the Sinquefield Chess Cup 2013 in Saint Louis three days back. His opponent? Magnus Carlsen!

Was it "something different" or, an antidote to Carlsen's chess hypnotism?

There's been this rumour circulating in the chess world for quite some time that Carlsen is not a chess practitioner in the traditional sense because he uses chess hypnotism. The antidote to his "abilities" is not to make eye contact with him during a game! Is that what Hikaru Nakamura attempted in Saint Louis? The game ended in a draw though Carlsen had to sacrifice his exchange and could have been heading for the gallows. Carlsen survived.

Korchnoi on Chess hypnotism and Carlsen

Back in 2011, during the veterans’ chess tournament in Suzdal, Russia, 80-year-old Victor Korchnoi talked to Vladimir Barsky and Alexander Bykhovsky and said, Magnus Carlsen achieves his success due to “hypnotic abilities”.
 

The legendary Viktor Korchnoi told ChessPro in an interview: "I don’t see that Carlsen has the chess ability and I can’t understand at all how he achieves such incredible success. I can guess why, but it’s got no direct relation to chess. In the new edition of my 'Selected Games' I’ve added some things. For example, a game which I won in the 1974 match against Mecking (left). The key game of the whole match was the seventh. I could have lost it and then Mecking might have won the match. I’d been utterly outplayed!

"Nevertheless, I managed to adjourn the game in an endgame a pawn down. He’s a serious player and had won two inter-zonal tournaments, and I was a pawn down; in general, I’d already written myself off… And what happened? I won that adjourned game! A pawn down, in the endgame! And I started to ask myself: how’s such a thing possible?

"I began my discussion of the game: “In the chess world there are a few people with absolutely incredible hypnotic abilities. I consider Henrique Mecking to be among a group of three people who’ve achieved success in chess in that manner. Those are Mikhail Tal, Magnus Carlsen and Henrique Mecking”.

"I wrote that, and who objected? Kasparov didn’t agree, but that’s his business! I’ve got my own outlook on life and chess. The man forced his opponent to play as he wanted at the board. Then he goes home where there’s no opponent; and as a result he loses a drawn position. It’s not chess but something totally different! That’s how I see it.

World Chess Championship 1978

Further back in chess history, during the 1978 World Chess Championship between Anatoly Karpov and Viktor Korchnoi in Baguio City, Philippines from July 18 to October 18, 1978, Karpov's team included one Dr Zukhar (a well-known hypnotist). There were complaints about the use of hypnotism and Korchnoi called for mirror glasses. (There were other bizarre incidents at that championship as well.)

Chess self-hypnosis downloads on the Internet

There are thousands of downloads (both free and paid) available on the Internet for subliminal self-hypnosis. These audio programmes claim to build your memory in record time, improve your concentration skills and help bring about a state of complete and total focus for playing strong chess. This is all self hypnosis.

Indian street-fighter chess and hypnosis

As rumour would have it, Carlsen practices a sort of hypnosis that gets his opponent onto the back foot and into blunders. Any Indian chess street-fighter would tell you that "this type of chess hypnosis" does exist and is used by focusing really hard on a particular square during the game. Supposedly, this unsettles the opponent. This chess hypnotism requires plenty of energy and these chess players also say that chess hypnotism could affect ones health. 

Chess - being a sport of concentration - obviously requires enhanced focus and concentration. So, it is understood that professional chess players do use techniques to enhance focus and concentration. How much of this involves hypnotism of the opponent is anybody's guess. Indian chess players are known to use pranayama breathing techniques, regular physical fitness programmes, meditation etc. to calm their mind and improve concentration, but none have confessed about using any chess hypnotism.

The chess hypnotism failure

In lighter vein, here is Russian maverick Grandmaster Alexander Morozovich's comment in an interview to WGM Alina L'Ami's question: What about oddities, have you done anything unusual in your training?

"Well, I regularly practice chess hypnotism. Without any result:) Recently I've started taking my backpack to the games with a much better effect. A number of very impressionable players have been thinking of what's inside more than about their own games! 

We even had a funny advert circulating online after Hikaru Nakamura's "something different" appearance.

Sinquefield Chess Cup 2013

Back to speaking about the Sinquefield Chess Cup Round 3: Brian Jerauld, reporting for the official website wrote: At the 1959 Candidates Tournament, Hungarian GM Pal Benko, desperate to refute the “hypnotic stare” of the legendary Mikhail Tal, pulled from his pocket a defense never tried before: reflective sunglasses. Tal had decisively won every match of their career to that point. In the third round of the Sinquefield Cup, GM Hikaru Nakamura decided to try out 'Benko’s variation'.

The eccentric American No. 1 (Hikaru Nakamura) strolled into the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis on Wednesday, donning a pair of shades for his game against Norway’s Magnus Carlsen. Carlsen, perhaps through hypnotism, decisively held the lifetime series between the two at 7-0 with 13 draws.

"For the first time in his life, Carlsen has to look at his opponent and see himself," quipped GM Ian Rogers, who was offering live commentary to a crowd at Lester’s restaurant nearby the Chess Club. "That will be scary."

What happens on September 14, 2013?

It's going to be Hikaru Nakamura versus Carlsen today in Saint Louis for the second game in the round-robin. Will Nakamura turn up with sunglasse again?

Even if Nakamura survives Carlsen's hypnotic glare, will Carlsen be using this hypnosis to pound out Viswanathan Anand at the World Chess Championship 2013 in Chennai? Has Anand already prepared some Indian techniques to take care of "such stuff" and will force the boy Carlsen to his knees on the chessboard this November? Exciting untold answers and the chess world watches with baited breath. 

P.S. For those interested in chess and hypnotism, there's a neat article at Chessbase via Chess Notes.

 -- Zainab Raza Undulusi

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Cool Chess Video: Judit Polgar Giving a Hard Time to Magnus Carlsen in Mexico

The 2nd Gran Fiesta UNAM Chess festival took place from 16-25 November, 2012 in Mexico City. The festival comprised a number of competitions, but the highlight was the Judit Polgar and Magnus Carlsen match. Carlsen and Polgar had eliminated Lazaro Bruzon and Manuel Leon Hoyos in the qualifying rounds en route to the final, but the world #1 didn't have things all his own way. Judit Polgar won the first game, beating Magnus Carlsen with black in their rapid clash, but Carlsen hit back to win the second encounter which was played blindfolded. That meant blitz tie-breaks games were needed, and Carlsen won both games convincingly to take victory overall. Enjoy the video from the official chess channel of the Chess World No. 1 among women, Judit Polgar. 

Also read: The Chess Queen Who Beat 'em both: Kosteniuk Chess Videos. So, even if Carlsen beats Viswanathan Anand in the upcoming World Chess Championship in Chennai this November, we know he's still got plenty of cool chess competition coming his way! ;)

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Anand vs Carlsen World Chess Championship 2013 Schedule, Tiebreak, Time Control Regulations

The forthcoming World Chess Championship 2013 in Chennai between Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen will be played according to the following schedule, time controls and tiebreak regulations.

Schedule: Match System: The World Chess Championship Match 2013 will consist of 12 games and if necessary, tie-break games. The World Chess Championship 2013 will be played according to the following schedule:

OPENING CEREMONY 07 November 2013 
GAME 1 - 08 November 2013
GAME 2 - 09 November 2013
REST DAY
GAME 3 - 11 November 2013
GAME 4 - 12 November 2013
REST DAY
GAME 5 - 14 November 2013
GAME 6 - 15 November 2013
REST DAY
GAME 7 - 17 November 2013
GAME 8 - 18 November 2013
REST DAY

GAME 9 - 20 November 2013
GAME 10- 21 November 2013
REST DAY
GAME 11 - 23 November 2013
GAME 12 - 24 November 2013

REST DAY

TIEBREAKS - 26 November 2013

CLOSING CEREMONY: 
The closing ceremony shall take place on the day after the World Chess Champion has been decided or one day thereafter. 

If the winner scores 6.5 points in less than 12 games then the organizer can re-schedule the Closing Ceremony for an earlier date.

Until this World Chess Championship, no postponement of any game was allowed. However, an "illness clause" has been added to the contract this time around. 

FIDE vice-president Israel Gelfer had told journalists in Chennai after conducting a final inspection of the venue that the illness clause – which allows two days off if either of the players falls ill – was added to the contract after Anand “graciously accepted“ 

Drawing of colors 

The draw for colors will be conducted during the opening ceremony. The colors shall be reversed after game 6. (The player getting the white color in game 1 shall play game 7 with the black color).

For tie-break games, there shall be a separate drawing of lots conducted by the Chief Arbiter of the match.

Time control 
The time control for each game shall be: 120 minutes for the first 40 moves, 60 minutes for the next 20 moves and then 15 minutes for the rest of the game with an increment of 30 seconds per move starting after move 61 has been made.

The games shall be played using the electronic clocks and boards approved by FIDE.

The World Chess Championship 2013 shall be played over a maximum of twelve (12) games and the winner of the match shall be the first player to score 6.5 points or more. A tie shall be broken according to regulations stated below. 

If a player refuses to participate in the World Championship Match, he will be replaced as follows: The runner up finalist of FWCM 2012 GM Boris Gelfand replaces the World champion Vishy Anand and the runner up of the Candidates Tournament 2013 Vladimir Kramnik replaces the challenger Magnus Carlsen. In case any or both players refuse to participate when invited, or for any further replacements needed, the rating list of January 2013 will be used to determine their replacements.

Tie-breaks 
If the scores are level after the regular twelve (12) games, after a new drawing of colors, four (4) tie-break games shall be played. The games shall be played using the electronic clock starting with 25 minutes for each player with an increment of 10 seconds after each move

All tie-break games shall be played according to the following:
1. Play is governed by the World Championship Technical Regulations which apply with the exceptions mentioned below in (2), (3) and (4).
2. The players do not need to record the moves. An arbiter shall record the moves.
3. The player who has the move may stop the clocks and consult the Arbiter’s score sheet and if his next move will produce a threefold repetition of position, or the 50 moves rule, he himself must write the intended move on the score sheet and claim the draw if he wants. If the draw claim is found to be correct, the game is immediately ended as a draw. If the claim is found to be incorrect, the Arbiter shall add three minutes to the opponent’s remaining time and the game continues with the intended move. A maximum of two incorrect claims for a draw can be made by each player. If a player makes a third incorrect claim, the arbiter shall declare the game lost for this player.

4. If a game has ended by resignation, checkmate, time loss, stalemate, triple repetition or any other of the ways described in the Technical Regulations, no claim for irregularities shall be accepted (irregularities include clock settings etc as described in the Technical Regulations).

If the scores are level after the games then, after a new drawing of colors, a match of 2 games shall be played with a time control of 5 minutes plus 3 seconds increment after each move. In case of a level score, another 2-game match will be played to determine a winner. If still there is no winner after 5 such matches (total 10 games), one sudden-death game will be played as described below.

If the score is still level after five matches as described, the players shall play a one sudden death game. The player who wins the drawing of lots may choose the color. The player with the white pieces shall receive 5 minutes, the player with the black pieces shall receive 4 minutes whereupon, after the 60th move, both players shall receive an increment of 3 seconds starting from move 61. In case of a draw the player with the black pieces is declared the winner.

There shall be a pause of 10 minutes between all tie-break games, unless the Chief Arbiter decides otherwise. - B&W Team

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Cheating Impossible at World Chess Championship Viswanathan Anand vs Magnus Carlsen Match 2013

Not that the integrity of either World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand or World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen is doubted, yet the players will have to reach the playing hall at Hotel Hyatt Regency, in Chennai, 10 minutes before the start time of the game. 

We did witness an elaborate security check for players at the recently-concluded World Cup in Tromso, Norway. Something similar will be implemented in Chennai. It is the entire chess community's responsibility to ensure that fair play is endorsed at all levels in the sport. 

A mandatory security will be conducted on both the chess players. Only the players and stewards shall be allowed in the actual playing area except with the permission of the Chief Arbiter or his Deputy. Both players will have access to the same toilet facilities during the games. There will be no separate rest rooms for the players during the games. Both players shall use the same rest lounge area which shall be on/at the stage and visible by the Arbiter and the spectators, according to the FIDE regulations.

During the playing session the following additional regulations shall be in force: - The players are not permitted to bring into the playing area telephone, technical and other equipment extraneous to play, which may in any way disturb or upset the opponent. The Chief Arbiter shall decide what constitutes extraneous equipment liable to offend the opponent. 
- A player may communicate with an arbiter. 
- During the playing session, a player may leave the playing area only with the permission of the Chief Arbiter and only if he is accompanied by one of the arbiters.
- The games will be played in a soundproof area that would be cut off from the audience and journalists by a glass partition.

Yes, Anand and Carlsen will have to fight it out one-on-one, in their heads alone!

For any infringement of these rules, the Chief Arbiter shall have the right to impose a fine of not more than 5,000 (five thousand) euro. The player may protest to the Appeals Committee in accordance to the proceedings laid out in the FIDE handbook.

The FIDE President shall nominate, from within the Presidential Board, three members of the Appeals Committee one of whom shall be Chairman. All protests must be submitted in writing to the Appeals Committee not more than two (2) hours after the finish of the relevant playing session, or the particular infringement complained against.

The Appeals Committee may decide on the following matters:

a) an appeal against a decision by an arbiter,
b) a protest against a player's behavior,
c) a complaint alleging false interpretation of the regulations,
d) a request for the interpretation of specific regulations,
e) a protest or complaint against any participant, or
f) all other matters which the Appeals Committee considers important.

If possible, the Appeals Committee shall reach a decision not more than two (2) hours after the submission of a protest. The appeals process shall include written representations and a written decision. The Appeals Committee shall endeavor to find binding solutions that are within the spirit of the FIDE motto, Gens Una Sumus. Each protest must be accompanied by a deposit fee of €3000 (three thousand Euros) or the equivalent in local currency. This can also be done if the player makes a written request that FIDE withholds the fee from his prize money. If the protest is accepted, the fee shall be returned. If the protest is rejected, the fee may be forfeited to FIDE. The written decision of the Appeals Committee arising from any dispute in respect of these regulations shall be final.

If required, the FIDE President will appoint a FIDE Presidential Board member as FIDE Supervisor who will be above the Organising Committee in all issues involving:

a) fairness concerning treatment of both players in respect of organisational issues,
b) equal playing conditions
c) anti-cheating measures 

d) fair publicity of both players through the event's Press Office 

The FIDE Supervisor can request from the organizer and at their expense, any additional security arrangement he finds necessary, in logical terms, in order to secure a fair match and equal match conditions for the players. 

The Organizer has to implement the decisions of the FIDE Supervisor in all issues involving the above aspects before and during the match. Any decision of the FIDE Supervisor can be appealed by the players only to the Appeals Committee.

Since the match is not in a organised in a "neutral" country, Carlsen is allowed to suggest which member of the FIDE Presidential Board he prefers as FIDE Supervisor. Where the appointment of a FIDE Supervisor is not necessary, his functions and responsibilities shall be assumed by the Chairman of the Appeals Committee.

Other arrangements
FIDE shall ensure the playing hall and its environs meet at least the requirements of the FIDE Regulations for the Organization of Top Level Tournaments.

For security and administrative reasons, both participants with their teams, FIDE officials and accompanying persons are expected to stay in the official hotel.

After FIDE agrees with the Organizer on the arrangements in respect of the tournament hall, facilities, accommodation and meals, transportation, telecommunication, ceremonies, etc., no objections from the participants shall be accepted. Both Carlsen and Anand have already inspected and okayed the venue.

Playing Hall Inspection

The Players shall be entitled to inspect the accommodation arranged for them at the Venue three (3) days before the first game of the FWCM match and shall be entitled to make reasonable requests regarding such accommodation which the organizer shall use all reasonable endeavors to accommodate. 

The Players – shall inspect the playing hall in the presence of the Chief Arbiter and representatives of FIDE and the organizer, two (2) days before the first game of the FWCM at 3 pm. The Organizer shall use all reasonable endeavors to satisfy the reasonable requests of the players in relation to the playing hall. 

In the event of a dispute between the Players as to the condition and suitability of the playing hall, the FIDE Supervisor, if any, otherwise Chairman of Appeals Committee, shall decide about such dispute. His decision shall be final and binding. -- B&W Desk

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Anand vs Carlsen World Chess Championship 2013 Official Website chennai2013.fide.com to be Active Soon

The official website chennai2013.fide.com for the World Chess Championship match Viswanathan Anand versus Magnus Carlsen 2013 could be online within 10 days, or by the latest, during the first week of October. 

The official website of the Anand versus Gelfand World Chess Championship 2012 match in Moscow.

Sources said the World Chess match official website would offer ticket sales, profiles of the participants, complete schedules etc as is the tradition with all world championship sites along with details for visiting journalists, contests, memorabilia sales and more.

The World Chess match official website will also offer a state-of-the-art hi-tech Internet live broadcast system on a par with what was witnessed in Moscow for the Viswanathan Anand versus Boris Gelfand World Chess Championship 2012. There will be contests during the live broadcasts and daily chess events as well.

Exclusive chess material for World Chess match only on official website according to FIDE rules

According to FIDE handbook, the players are expected to co-operate reasonably with the media. General interviews with them can be arranged through the Press Officer and the team managers, but it is understood that exclusive interviews shall be arranged only after the FWCM has been concluded. 

Sources also said some of the most entertaining and interesting chess commentators would be invited to be a part of the big celebration that the World Chess match is going to be in Chennai this November. 

Immediately after the completion of a game both players have to take part in post game press conferences, of not more than 20 minutes duration. The players must be present at all official functions during the match including official receptions, the opening ceremony and the closing ceremony. All of this will be broadcast live to the worldwide audience of chess fans.

It is interesting to note that the FIDE regulations require the players to to wear suits during the playing session. Players are allowed to wear branding of their personal sponsors only if these are not in conflict with the FWCM sponsors.

Indeed, chess is becoming a media sport and it is great that the forthcoming World Chess match is going to be a showcase of not just great chess, but two handsome and stylish sports icons of our times. We cannot wait enough! -- Rajat Khanna

P.S. In case of a domain change, we hope to inform you soon enough.

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Anand has Better Temperament and Experience, but Chess Rating Gap is Huge: GM Dibyendu Barua

World Chess Championship 2013 GM interview: India's second Grandmaster, Dibyendu Barua, has said he feels World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand will have the advantage of a better temperament and match experience when he defends his title against Norwegian challenger Magnus Carlsen in Chennai in November.

Barua said the only factor that might bother the world chess champion would be the relatively “big” difference in ratings. Rarely has a World Chess Championship title match seen such a big difference in rating points between the two players. It is a difference of 87 points going by the current rating of Anand (2775) and Carlsen (2862). "A difference of 10 rating points is considered big at this level. This may be a cause of concern for Anand and may weigh on him psychologically that his challenger is ahead of him in terms of rating," Barua, who is also a vice-president of the All India Chess Federation, said.

“The Chess World No. 1, who at one point reached 2872, looks more formidable than even the legendary Russian World Chess Champion Gary Kasparov. Many expect him to reach 2900 very soon. Anand is a bit off-colour these days and appears to be struggling in his recent performances,” Barua said.

“There may be a couple of factors bothering Anand but one must remember that there are many strong points that will keep Anand ahead on his home turf. His temperament is outstanding and he has the experience of winning the title five times,” Barua said.

“Anand is very meticulous in his preparation and is a much transformed player when he is playing for the title. It will be interesting to see how Carlsen, who is playing in the World championship clash for the first time, tackles the intense pressure of the 12-game format,” he said.

Barua said the first couple of games would be crucial. “Anand cannot afford to let his young opponent any allowance and should take charge right from the beginning. Carlsen who is diligent does not believe in any spectacular opening. But he prefers to take the game in the comfort zone where he is unflinching in his attack,” Barua, who will be at the venue to see Anand defend his title, said. -- Agencies

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Five things that make Magnus Carlsen so Sexy: A note on World Chess Championship Challenger 2013

Chess world's Guy of the Season, Magnus Carlsen had at least 2,000 girls screaming a welcome when he recently visited Chennai, the venue of the forthcoming World Chess Championship 2013.

Trust us, in India, not many people would seriously bother with professional chess except for those in the cities of Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, New Delhi and Mumbai. The kind of welcome Carlsen received is reserved only for cricket players or film stars in India. Chess, as a sport, has failed to capture the imagination of the nation despite Viswanathan Anand being a name easily recognised across the country. 

So, how come, the chess wonderboy, took chess back to Indian prime time television news and Page One in the print media with a single visit? What exactly makes Magnus Carlsen so hot? Here are five reasons you are bound to agree with:

1. The Magnus Carlsen Brand of Passion: Didn't they say chess was played by bespectacled dweebs and nerds, or oldies, who took the art of being anti-social to the next level? Carlsen has changed all that in one stroke. He describes himself as an athlete on his Facebook page, is incredibly fit, dresses like a model (is one), and speaks his mind. He is a 21st Century champion who seems to have brought back the mystique and charisma of Bobby Fischer with modern fizz, elan, passion and sanity. Youngsters can relate to him, seniors enjoy trying to fathom his chess style and everyone who plays chess is inspired by him. He has also added great commercial value to the sport of chess as well. Only Carlsen (or Kasparov) could dare say this: "It has been a while since I went into a game with losing as an option." 

2. To hell with Chess Computers: Just when the chess world was sure that computers had destroyed the game, Magnus Carlsen has shown the way for humans. Carlsen's is a secret chess path that might be difficult for human experts to understand for at least another decade, yet he's shown how to tell those machines to shut up. He doesn't bother too much with computer-learned openings.

That also spells hope for the vast majority of chess lovers out there who have other things to do (like earning their daily bread) while wanting to play good chess at the same time. We can't help cheering for Mr Carlsen. 

Carlsen has also said, "I’ve never been much of a (chess) computer guy at least in terms of playing with computers. Actually until I was about 11, I didn’t use a computer for preparing for games at all. I was playing a bit online, was using the chess club mainly. Now, obviously, the computer is an important tool for me preparing for my games. [But] in general I get much more pleasure from playing human opponents. That’s why I never really played with computer. I just analyse when I’m on the computer, either my games or my opponents. But mostly my own." 

3. Killer Carlsen: He's not a drawnik chess Grandmaster. No way. No one could have put it better than 2012 British Chess Champion Gawain Jones when he remarked that Magnus Carlsen draws blood from stone. Carlsen has himself said that he does not believe in draws. Draws have been killing chess for quite a while now. Carlsen brings chess back to life.  

About draws in chess Carlsen says, "I just think at top level tournaments you should play out the games... At top level tournaments, there’s simply no excuse for not playing out the games."

4. Carlsen's New Age Fundamentals of Fun: Carlsen has always insisted that "For me, it’s about playing as long as I’m motivated, as long as it’s fun, as long as it’s interesting." 

The 22-year-old chess champion doesn't care about money despite already being in the millionaire's club with his earnings. That's exactly what all New Age gurus speak about: Do what you're good at and have fun with. Dump that materialism. The New Age concept is a rage with the youngsters giving them a new way to view both chess and life. This 'Carlsen-itis' is infectious!

5. Pure Chess Talent: There's no doubting that Magnus Carlsen has pure chess talent - part God gift and part hard work. He has also been coached by the very best, the legendary Garry Kasparov. Carlsen has already set the world record of the highest chess rating achieved by a human on the planet at 2872! That's beyond stratospheric really. 

Not for nothing has Cosmopolitan already voted the Chess World No. 1 as one of the top sexiest men on the planet. Who wouldn't agree? -- Zainab Raza Undulusi

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Anand would be Under Pressure from Home Chess Fans: Grandmaster Pravin Thipsay

World Chess Championship 2013 GM interview: Mumbai, September 8: With the buzz surrounding the contest between five-time champion Viswanathan Anand and world number one Magnus Carlsen, chess Grandmaster Pravin Thipsay said it would have been favourable for the Indian if the match was not scheduled in Chennai. 

"The match being held at Chennai, I am not sure if that will have a good effect. Anand would be under a lot of pressure. I think this is not favourable for Anand," Thipsay said at the Sports Journalists' Association of Mumbai awards on Sunday.

The match is slated between November 7 and 26 in Chennai. Analysing the players, Thipsay said that Anand has struggled in the past against players who take risks.

"The only problem with him is the players who are very erratic and players who play positions, which are not known to them. There are players who are natural gamblers and they play variations without knowing what will happen. Anand has always been bad against such street fighters. If he is able to study the style of a player, he can beat anybody," he said.

He said if the 43-year-old Anand doesn't make it a matter of prestige against his 22-year-old opponent then he is likely to succeed.

"Overall it's a match between a master of the game and one of the best street fighters. Carlsen plays very similar to one his first coaches, Grandmaster Simen Agdestein. He gets into positions which are not known to him and not known to the opponent either. The positions which are not ambitious and he doesn't know what will happen," he said.
 

"He is going to fight it out over the board. That is the sort of thing which is dangerous because probably he doesn't have anything to lose since he has several years more. If Anand doesn't make it a matter of prestige, Anand will prevail." (Left photo: Pravin Thipsay)

The chess ace also pointed out that Anand is an attacking player and his weak point has been the defense.

"Anand's drawback has been the defense. He is an attacking player. His attack is based on the sound position of style. Only after he gets into a better position, he goes for the attack," Thipsay said.

He said the match would be a tough one but felt it would be a one-sided contest.

"I feel the match will be one-sided. Either the master wins easily or the street fighter wins easily. There is no scope for any unclear thing, because it is such a divergent style. It is going to be a tough match. I am very anxious and also I don't know what the result of the match will be," he said.

Dronacharya award winner Raghunandan Gokhale said it is difficult to predict what will happen but said the sport would benefit from it.

"Both are very talented. The match will sparkle interest everywhere. Chess will benefit after this match, whether Anand wins it or Carlsen," Gokhale said. --PTI

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