There will Only be One Opening Master in Carlsen vs Anand World Chess Championship: GM Peter Svidler

World Chess Championship 2013 GM interview - Grandmaster Peter Svidler - who just won the Russian Chess Championship for a record seventh time - has said Magnus Carlsen will not have "adjustment problems" playing in India as Anna Ushenina recently had while playing in China against Hou Yifan for the Women's World Chess Championship 2013. 

GM Peter Svidler was quoted in an interview given to the Russian Chess Federation and transcribed by Chess-News.ru.

"A lot will depend on how smoothly openings work for Anand as there is only one "opening master" in this match. If such an opening balance will be maintained then the match will be interesting and approximately equal. If Magnus has worked precisely on that part and if he manages to "catch" Anand in the opening as white, I should say it will be a hard life for Vishy. From the pure playing point of view Magnus is stronger and he has more energy. [...] Nonetheless, Anand is certainly experienced in not only playing the matches but in preparing to them. I guess it won't be easy to fight with his opening preparation. And then anything is possible. Well, we'll see.. It should be interesting!"

"As regards Ushenina - Hou Yifan match, nothing similar will happen in Chennai - that's for sure. If even 25% of what Alexander Khalifman has said is truth... I suspect even more is truth for I know him for a long already and he is definitely not the one loving artistic exaggerations. [...] There's a huge difference between the powerful team helping Magnus and what support was offered to Ushenina. Anna had professional seconds, but as I see it Ukrainian chess Federation didn't want to take responsibility and publish any official statement: to have some position and say: "Hey, that's not how it should work!" Magnus' team will tell the organizers what they think the very minute anything will go wrong in India. That's why I am sure that there won't even be an attempt of doing something similar."    

"I guess the food and water danger is too exaggerated. All that craze that the Norwegian team will have its own cook... Maybe that's a good decision, but I mean the chance of getting poisoned in 5-star hotel in India is not bigger than in any other 5-star hotel anywhere else. Remembering World Chess Cup 2011, we were staying in Hotel Hyatt and they had six restaurants with different cuisine only on the first floor; and the food was very tasty. We had no problems - it's just funny to talk about that. The reputation of India as a country in which you can eat something and then be on pills the entire tournament is stereotypical and goes back to the time when people didn't live in good hotels."

*Note: The Alexander Khalifman reference is to Women's World Chess Champion Anna Ushenina losing her crown a few weeks back to Hou Yifan in China.

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Magnus Carlsen will Consider a Girlfriend after World Championship and Hopefully She Won't Talk Chess!

World Chess Championship 2013 interviews: Nigel Farndale meets the 22-year-old Norwegian Magnus Carlsen who next month aims to become world chess champion. Here are the best quotes from Nigel Farndale's full interview in The Guardian. 

On feeling sorry for opponents 

"Not really," he says in a low, measured voice, traceried with Norwegian. "But I find it more difficult to play opponents who I feel, for whatever reason, aren't approaching the games with a sufficient level of seriousness. For instance, once at a big tournament I saw a player I was due to play the next day have a couple of drinks. Knowing that just ruined my concentration, because I thought how can I play seriously against someone who has drinks the day before?"

On being described as a genius

"No, I am not. I'm just really, really good at what I do. I'm fortunate to do something I love, but I'm not a genius." 

On himself

"I guess I'm pretty laid back." 

"But I am also determined when it comes to chess. I don't like conflicts, apart from on the board. In general I am very different to how I am on the board."

On being stubborn

"Yes definitely, especially with my sisters, because they are also stubborn." An example of this stubbornness was his decision to forgo a university education. 'My parents wanted me to go, but at some point I lost interest in formal education and they were OK with it. I wasn't paying much attention so I wasn't great at school. Yes, in my later years at school I was bored, not necessarily because it was too easy, but because it didn't interest me."

On blindfold chess

"When you think about chess all the time you are playing blindfolded anyway, sort of. But I can understand why other people find it freaky. One of the beauties of chess is that you don't need a board either to play or analyse."

On computers

"I use them to analyse my openings, but in tournaments my assumption is that I am the best player there. That is why I seek positions where computer analysis can't play that much of a role, or where I can analyse it better than a computer." 

"I never had any fun playing computers. It doesn't bring me satisfaction to beat them and losing to them is always painful."

On Kasparov losing to Deep Blue 

"Yeah, but I think every loss damages Kasparov. He's one of those people," says Carlsen. "He didn't think he was going to lose to Deep Blue, but towards the end of the match he was nervous and second guessing himself all the time, and I think basically he beat himself."

On fatigue and getting headaches? 

"No, not really, but I do get tired. I can't sit there for seven hours straight. I need to freshen my mind by going for a walk.""The pacing is to let my mind wander before getting back to the game with a fresh perspective."

Does he ever feel like he's being driven mad?"A little, maybe. But if I study a position for an hour then I am usually going in loops and I'm probably not going to come up with something useful. I usually know what I am going to do after 10 seconds; the rest is double checking." He calls this process verifying his intuition. "Often I cannot explain a certain move, only know that it feels right, and it seems that my intuition is right more often than not."

On being lazy

"Yes, I am quite lazy, I like to sleep in until noon. Most of my friends have jobs." He does "a bit of yoga", although he adds: "So far I haven't thought of any brilliant chess moves while lying down."

Does he dream about chess in his sleep? 

A long sigh. "Occasionally, but these dreams are usually connected with something negative. I am losing to players I never normally lose to and I am arriving late and being defaulted; that happens so many times in my dreams – I don't know why."

On a relationship

"I haven't had too much time to develop any serious relationships, recently anyway. I'm hoping after the world championships I will be able to change that."

On the type of a girlfriend for Magnus Carlsen

"Yeah. Probably. But it's also nice to…" He trails off. "I really don't like it when I go out and some girls start talking to me about how they played chess with their grandfather as a kid, I can't stand that. It's boring. I want to talk about whatever else."

On emotional landscape: does he cry? 

"I was really upset yesterday when I tried to install my new TV and there was no sound. But that was more frustration. Cry? I don't really. I get angry, but mostly about chess."

On "the crazy" and Fischer

"It was probably only the chess keeping him sane. He would have gone insane much quicker without it. His story is very different to mine. He had a difficult upbringing. Difficult relationship to his family. I have lived a much more sheltered, normal life. As normal as it could be, considering how much I travelled."

On food
"I generally try to eat healthily, avoid quick carbs that make your blood sugar go up and down, which is bad for concentration." He eats one and a half hours before a game, and tries to sleep until as close to the start of the game as possible, "because my mind works best four or five hours after I wake up".

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World Chess Championship 2013: Magnus Carlsen Team to Include Norwegian-Speaking Bodyguard

World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen will be accompanied by his Norwegian-speaking bodyguard to the World Chess Championship 2013 versus Viswanathan Anand in Chennai. The chess prodigy is going to play for the biggest title in chess this November, reports NTB, the Norwegian News Service. (Left: A poster for Magnus Carlsen's Match against the world (which he duly won) as part of his sponsorship deal with G-Star.)

The chess prodigy's manager, Espen Agdestein was quoted as saying that they trust that the organisers would provide the 22-year-old best facilities, but they would like to have people who speak Norwegian in key positions around Carlsen during the World Chess Championship against Viswanathan Anand. 

For an event like the World Chess Championship, "it is completely natural. The organisers are responsible for the personnel and it is the organisers' responsibility to ensure that Magnus can move freely. But it's okay to have a Norwegian-speaking bodyguard so that Magnus is comfortable," says Espen Agdestein.

There is going to be enormous enthusiasm for the World Chess Championship and sometimes fans and photographers can be overbearing. -- Chess Magazine Black & White

Read Also: Carlsen's Private Doctor

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Magnus Carlsen's Private Doctor Brede Kvisvik to take Good Care of World No. 1 in Chennai

The excitement around the upcoming Anand, Carlsen World Chess Championship 2013 has also taken hold over the World No. 1's personal doctor Brede A. Kvisvik, a chess player (Fide Master) in his own right! He is going to accompany Magnus Carlsen's team to Chennai for the big event considered the most talked-about chess match after the 1972 World Chess Championship between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky. 

The 29-year-old from the town of Frei is going to be close to all the action at the 12 games of the World Chess Championship in Chennai between Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen beginning November 7. 

Speaking to Norwegian newspaper Tidens Krav, Kvisvik said, "This summer I got a call from Henrik Carlsen. He asked me if could be part of the team going to India as a doctor and support. I think there is very little chance that Magnus would suffer food poisoning or any typical tropical disease, but you never know. I will take drugs and be prepared for everything to help Carlsen." 

Tidens Krav (TK) is a local tabloid published in Kristiansund, Norway since 1906. 

The 29-year-old Kvisvik said he was never in doubt about going with Team Carlsen. "No, of course not. I was floating around on a cloud since I was asked. This is the greatest thing that ever happened to me," says Kvisvik who himself is a formidable name on Norway's list of talented chess players.

"Of course as a chess professional, I probably have nothing to contribute at this level," he laughs.

The boy moved away Frei is often associated with Magnus Carlsen in his spare time.Kvisvik has been associated with Magnus Carlsen's group of friends who play play bowling, poker and spend free time together. "That can be in India too. The Norwegian world number one is concerned with the physical training so he can better prepared for long chess games. I am at his disposable whatever Magnus wishes. It could be tennis, it may be football. There may be other things. The goal is of course that I should be the doctor," says Kvisvik.

Magnus Carlsen's team will also include private security and a chess. Neither Viswanathan Anand, nor Magnus Carlsen have yet announced the chess professionals' team that is helping them for the World Chess Championship in Chennai. -- Rajat Khanna

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World Chess Match: Brain-Aging Expert's Advice to Viswanathan Anand for Match versus Magnus Carlsen

Here is an interesting press release from Living the CR Way on the neurobiology of chess. We are not, in any way, related to the company, but felt the press release was interesting enough to share -- Ed

Improved Cognitive Function in Older Adults Can Be Achieved with Calorie Restriction, Blood Sugar Management, Says The CR Way
 

OSSINING, N.Y., Oct. 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- As people age, they often experience memory loss, reduced concentration, and other cognitive problems. Diet and lifestyle, though, can improve cognitive performance and reverse some aspects of brain aging. Consider the world chess champion – chess genius, Viswanathan Anand – who in November will defend his title against the highest rated player in chess history, Magnus Carlsen.

Pundits predict a Carlsen win, based on the recent games and tournament scores of the two players. Carlsen beat Anand handily in their most recent encounter in June. But Anand should not be counted out. He has successfully defended his world championship title many times and is known for his excellent preparation and creative play.

The biggest challenge Anand faces may be physiological. According to brain-aging expert, Dr. Timothy Salthouse, cognitive capabilities usually peak at 22, the very age Carlsen is now. Salthouse finds that on average, by age 28, signs of cognitive decline begin to show up. By 38, signs of memory loss increase.* Most people may not notice these declines until much later, but elite chess players do: Their careers stand or fall on their peak intellectual performance. Anand is 43, almost twice Carlsen's age.

At the recent Sinquefield Cup chess tournament (St. Louis, MO), Carlsen and Levon Aronian the world's top-ranked chess players, joined the two top-ranked U.S. players, Haraku Nakamura and Gata Kamsky, for a round-robin competition. True to Salthouse's findings, the players' scores correlated negatively to their ages:

Carlsen: 22 years old – won 4.5 games out of 6 (A half game results from a draw.)

Haraku Nakamura: 25 – 3.5
Levon Aronian: 30 – 2.5
Gata Kamsky: 38 – 1.5

So should chess grandmasters retire at 23?

"No," says Paul McGlothin, president of LivingTheCRWay.com and instructor of online classes for cognitive improvement."Science shows that people can get rid of the brain fog they experience as they get older." If Viswanathan Anand walked in the door and asked how to get an edge for the upcoming match, McGlothin would first ask him to visit a doctor and have a thorough physical exam.

With his doctor's OK, one idea Anand would be advised to explore is blood sugar management. Research suggests that keeping blood glucose at healthful levels improves short-term intellectual performance and protects against age-related decline of critical parts of the brain that are important for memory and decision making. Further: A pre-game exercise regimen, planned for Anand, could help him relax and improve concentration.

Who wins the world chess championship may not matter to some people, but maintaining a healthy brain interests nearly everyone. People need their brains to function well for everything from remembering names to excelling at work. The same principles Anand can apply to retaining the world chess championship are helpful for any endeavor.

* Salthouse TA. When does age-related cognitive decline begin? Neurobiology of Aging. 2009 Apr;30(4):507-14. doi: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2008.09.023.

Getting a Brain Boost at LivingTheCRWay.com

The LivingTheCRWay Brain Booster Membership
(http://store.livingthecrway.com/cr-way-brain-booster-membership/) focuses on planning diet and lifestyle for optimal mental performance. LivingTheCRWay.com is a holistic online community. Members enjoy delicious, healthful lifestyles that include live, friendly support.

Every month world-leading scientists and doctors hold teleconferences for LivingTheWay.com members. October includes Alzheimer's Disease (AD) expert, Dr. Dale Bredesen, Professor and Founding President of the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, who will discuss what leads to AD; internist, nutritionist, nephrologist Dr. Michael Rosen, Director of The Kidney Stone Center at the Mount Kisco (NY) Medical Group, will focus on the value of a variety of lab tests and health markers.

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Carlsen will Seek Kasparov's Advice for 2013 World Chess Championship Match versus Anand

"Yes, I'm going to talk to him. I think he has some advice for me. It is true that Kasparov is not part of my team, but I will consult him before the World Championship. He knows Anand better than anyone. He beat Anand in a World Championship Match in 1995, Anand never managed to beat Kasparov in a long time."

This is what World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen told Norwegian newspaper VG a few hours back. 

Garry Kasparov vs Viswanathan Anand World Championship Match, World Trade Center 1995. (Press publicity photo)

Earlier this year, Carlsen had maintained that Garry Kasparov would not be a part of his team as he prepares for the World Chess Championship. 

Carlsen and Kasparov together in Norway in 2010. 

Later, Carlsen discontinued studying with the former world champion. -- Reuters

Carlsen said, "I have always said that it was appropriate to ask him (Kasparov) for help and advice at a World Championship if and when it becomes necessary. And now it's there!"

VG states that they do not know how Carlsen will seek this advice - in person, via skype or in some other way. 

It is widely believed that Carlsen could not handle Kasparov's strict tutelage and even told his father, "Get me out of this." That was after the Corus Chess Tournament, 2010 and "revealed" in a 2011 Carlsen biography Smarte trekk. Magnus Carlsen ('Smart move. Magnus Carlsen'). For Smarte trekk, daily newspaper journalist Hallgeir Opedal followed Carlsen for a year.

Speaking to VG, New in Chess editor Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam, says it would be wise on Carlsen's part to seek advice from Kasparov. He says their break-up was the result of Kasparov's dominance, but now they are friends and now, Magnus would be receiving advice from one of the best chess players of the world. It is a very good deal, and it makes sense for Magnus to take advantage of this, he said.  -- Rajat Khanna

Also Read:

Legendary Chess Tutor, Exciting Young Pupil
Carlsen got Kasparov's database of 20 Years' Work

The Carlsen Chess Story: Simen Agdestein tells it all from Up Close

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Carlsen meets Norwegian Journalists before flying to the US, to begin Training Camp at Secret Location

World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen, who was back in Oslo, Norway after winning the Sinquefield Chess Cup in Saint Louis, US, will fly back to the United States this Saturday. Carlsen will proceed to a training camp from the United States and then directly go to Chennai, India - the venue of the World Chess Championship 2013 against Viswanathan Anand.

Carlsen, his manager and father met Norwegian chess journalists these last two days. Here are quotes by Carlsen and his team from some news reports in leading Norwegian dailies:

- What is important now is to relax and not get too nervous. towards the World Championship. It's about finding the right feeling and maintaining harmony.
- The three-week training camp will take place in a place where the climate and time zone are closer to what awaits in India. But, details of the training camp will be held kept secret. 
- We want to be sure that it is a private thing, and I am shielded from the outside world. 
- The team could include four to five people. The names are not being announced so as not to give Anand a competitive advantage. We will not give any more information than necessary.
- I look at chess and meet regularly with Jon Ludvig Hammer. The first two weeks will consist of intense preparation with seven to eight hours daily of chess preparation and some physical exercise. The last week before the World Championship match will be more relaxed.

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Magnus Carlsen Chess Analysis, Programs Stored on Europe's Leading Internet Provider Basefarm Cloud

Guess where World No. Magnus Carlsen will store all his chess computing data and chess programs? Do you know Carlsen's chess analysis and research cannot be stolen even if you rob him of his laptops?

The super chess talent from Norway has all his valuable chess data stored on the cloud via a cloud storage service provided by Basefarm. This is also because processor requirements for handling chess data and analysis are beyond the capacity of a regular computer. Getting help from the Basefarm cloud server not only saves times, adds speed to analysis, but also helps Carlsen keep his chess data safe and accessible from anywhere in the world. That includes India - for the World Chess Championship 2013 versus Viswanathan Anand.

Carlsen said, "To be absolutely sure that I anytime and anywhere can access chess programs provides a sense of security in preparation." says Carlsen.

Basefarm CEO Bjart Kvarme said, "This is very exciting for us. When we received the request from Magnus and his team, we were in no doubt that this was something we wanted to be part of."

"We are convinced that the quality of our cloud services can help Magnus achieve success in India and become the first western World Chess Champion since Bobby Fischer," said Kvarme.

Basefarm is a leading hosting provider for "mission critical business applications". They provide complex technology solutions, high-end cloud services, application management and colocation from six datacenters in Europe. With their +300 members of staff, they host more than 35,000 services reaching over 40 million end users in 23 countries. (Courtesy Basefarm official Oslo office Facebook page)

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Carlsen's Live Twitter, Facebook, Blog feed/Nordic Semi: Towards World Chess Championship in India

Ultra low power (ULP) RF specialist Nordic Semiconductor ASA (OSE: NOD) had recently announces that they were sponsoring Magnus Carlsen, the youngest player to be ranked number one in world chess and the highest ranking points holder in the history of the game, in a three-year deal.

Nordic have also just launched a cool Carlsen update website that will have his live blog feed, Facebook feed and Magnus Carlsen's twitter feed. The title reads: 

Towards the World Chess Championship in India
HVOR HVA NÅR
Nordic will be there.

Click on screenshot above to visit the website live feed of chess talent Magnus Carlsen.

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World Chess Championship 2013: 5 Reasons Why Carlsen better not underestimate Anand!

Despite World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen's stratospheric chess performance at the recently-concluded Sinquefield Chess Cup in Saint Louis, and despite his highest-ever chess rating for a human, World Champion Viswanathan Anand can just not be underestimated. Here are five reasons why:

1. Viswanathan Anand's depth of world championship match experience: Not for nothing has Viswanathan Anand won the world title five times. He has faced a variety of opponents in all types of format and could possibly sleepwalk through several games without losing. Check out: World Chess Champion Five Times: The Anand Timeline.

2. The silent volcano: Not for Viswanathan Anand a media blitzkrieg or screaming girls. Not for Anand the quotes and the rival bashing with television and newspaper bytes... Anand's style is that of the quite volcano that erupts on the chessboard. This guy cannot be underestimated just because he prefers to stay away from the hoopla, or goes for draws. He always has something up his sleeve and, like India's answer to Judit Polgar, Koneru Humpy would say: "It is very difficult to surprise Anand!" He has his own strategy that can finish any opponent. 

3. Watching, waiting and preparing secretly: Viswanathan Anand just got the chance to witness Carlsen in action at the Sinquefield Chess Cup. How much of preparation could Carlsen have hidden, or how much extra would Carlsen be able to prepare in the coming 50 days leading up to the World Chess Championship 2013 in Chennai? Everyone's raving about Carlsen's fitness, but how do we know what Anand's been up to? ;) Who has Anand been training with? Carlsen is the hunted now.

4. Home base motivation: No matter what people say or fear about the pressure upon World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand, the home base is likely to fuel Anand's killer instinct. Vishy Anand has already passionately stated that he wants to "win the title for India." That's more motivation than Anand has ever had before winning the earlier world chess titles.

5. Anand has his own spectacles: Okay this one's a bit tongue-in-cheek, but we couldn't resist it. US No. 1 Hikaru Nakamura started it all by wearing dark shades to his gaves vs Carlsen at the Sinquefield Cup. Anand has no worries about Carlsen's so-called chess hypnotism either. Viswanathan Anand has his own spectacles (even though the plain variety)!

-- Zainab Raza Undulusi

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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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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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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 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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