Viswanathan Anand has a Definite Chance. How many Favoured Anand vs Kramnik? Asks GM Sahaj Grover

World Chess Championship 2013 GM interview: Young Indian Grandmaster and former Under-10 world champion, Sahaj Grover is surprised at Magnus Carlsen of Norway being made such a big favourite in the forthcoming World Chess championship match against Viswanathan Anand and says the Indian has a great chance.

"No one can doubt or have any apprehension on Carlsen as Anand's challenger but from what I have been reading, it looks like Carlsen is a huge favourite, which in my opinion is not entirely correct," the 18-year-old said.

"Carlsen has been at the top of his game for many years but is yet to play a match of this stature. I am not saying he can't beat Anand but his chances should be about level.

"He is in great form but Anand has proved himself to be a great match player. How many favoured Anand to beat Kramnik in 2008? Yet he did it with awesome ease. Anand has a definite chance against Carlsen," he added.

A fan of Bobby Fischer, Grover said Anand is one of the few greats in the world.

"The last few decades have been changing times in the world of chess. Historically Fischer played well ahead of his time and Kasparov tormented the opposition like no one else. In the last 40 years these two apart from Anatoly Karpov (former world champion) can be classified as players who ruled the chess world in their prime. When we look at others, only Anand has matched these standards. Who has won the world championship five times in various formats?" Grover asked.

Only Mikhail Botwinnik of Russia won the world championship in match and tournament format prior to Anand. The chess world was in a crisis for the top position when Alexander Alekhine died as the world champion in 1946.

In 1948, a match tournament was organised with five top players of the world, which was won by Botwinnik. Subsequently the Russian great went on to defend the title in matches thereafter.

Anand, in fact, has done one better. The Indian ace has won the world championship in knockout format too, often criticised as the 'lottery', apart from winning three matches and a world championship match tournament in 2007.

"It's hard to have a clear pick when experience clashes with youth, things can go downhill for either of them in no time. I guess the defining moment will be either when Anand showcases abrilliant piece of home work to win or when Carlsen is able to outplay the Indian from an equal position," noted Grover.

Preparing for the next World Under-18 championship at Al-Ain in December, Grover will be watching and rooting for Anand from home.

"I haven't really seen much chess on TV, so this would be a first, also there will be live webcast for me. I am just going to watch from home and root for Anand. I read somewhere that Anand mentioned that he wanted to win it for Indian Chess. Amen!" said the budding star. -- PTI

* More GM opinions

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Won't be Surprised if Anand vs Carlsen Chess Match Goes to 6-6 and Tie-breaker Fight: GM P Harikrishna

World Chess Championship 2013 GM interview - Former Indian national chess champion Grandmaster P Harikrishna feels Viswanathan Anand's biggest quality is his adaptability and as the rounds progress, he would get used to the pressure. GM Harikrishna spoke to Indian Express:  

It is a battle between two different generations. Carlsen currently is the world No 1 in ranking and he is in good form with many tournament victories. On the other hand, Anand is a seasoned campaigner. He has won the last three world championship matches against Vladimir Kramnik (2008), Veselin Topalov (2010) and Boris Gelfand (2012). For Anand, this match is more important than the previous ones. 

He might feel a bit of pressure in the initial rounds. However, as the match progresses, he will get used to it. It is hard to predict what his approach will be in this match. But Anand has one of the best qualities that is adaptability. I have seen him using different approaches for different opponents. He has played Carlsen in many tournaments and I’m sure he is aware which strategy to take against him. If we look at Anand’s tournament performances in the last five years, we can see a big difference in his approach. 

Carlsen tries to win every single game. He can play many openings as he can grasp very quickly the nuances of any position. So this makes him highly unpredictable. He can choose any opening on the morning of the game and play it as if he has studied it for months. In fact, I won’t be surprised if it is 6-6 and they fight it out in the tie-breaker. The mental battle will be limited to the openings, strategy and other things related to the game and nothing else.

* Opinions by Grandmasters

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Nigel Short: I don't Doubt it is Possible for Anand to Raise his Game, Question is Can He here in Chennai?

This is the second part of GM Nigel Short's preview of the 2013 World Chess Championship between Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen beginning November 9 in Chennai. You can read the first part of the chess preview on our site.

Nigel Short Preview - Part 2 in Indian Express

Energy of youth vs years of wisdom

There is an immense self confidence — which to the uninitiated borders on arrogance — about Magnus Carlsen. Summarising the prospects of Viswanathan Anand and himself in an interview for "Chess" magazine, earlier this year, the 22 year-old Norwegian stated "The difference (between us) is that I've been winning tournaments and he's been holding on to his title. It will be an interesting clash between two different ideas of what constitutes the best player in the world".

It was perhaps not the politest thing to say about one of the greatest players in history, but then again it was probably not intended to be. The psychological warfare has already begun. From Anand's perspective, the most wounding aspect of this remark — ignoring the not-so-subtle reminder that Carlsen will easily remain the number one ranked player regardless of whether he wins or not — is that it is essentially true.

Carlsen is blessed with a superb memory, an uncanny sense of harmony and a sharp tactical eye. In terms of pure chess attributes, however, I don't think he holds any advantage, whatsoever, over the defending champion.

I agree with the Russian Grandmaster, Vladimir Kramnik, that Carlsen's main assets are youthful energy, a good nervous system, incredible motivation and a deadly killer instinct. Such qualities cannot be dismissed as a bag of tricks: World Championships are played under tremendous pressure and these things really do count for a lot.

Tough nut

Anand is not devoid of chances though. His vast match experience should hold him in good stead. He has come a very long way from the fluffy, little rabbit who disintegrated the moment Kasparov put him under pressure in 1995. He has added toughness, resilience and wisdom to his armoury. Playing one-on- one for weeks on end is a true test of character and is a far cry from psychologically less demanding tournament play — where Carlsen excels.

Indeed the Norwegian is practically a virgin in this demanding field. Matches require deep introspection because any flaws will be ruthlessly exposed. He will have to learn on the job. Other factors may also work in Anand's favour. For a start he is playing on home soil with a partisan crowd. Huge numbers of cheering fans can occasionally be a distraction but, in this case, they ought to give his confidence a welcome boost. Both climate and cuisine could pose problems for Carlsen.

Your writer has plenty of experience of playing in India — winning the Commonwealth Championship twice in Mumbai and once in Nagpur. Nevertheless, on a couple of other occasions, I have suffered the most debilitating food poisoning, as Europeans are sometimes prone to do. In case Carlsen succumbs as I have done previously, he will not be able to beat his grandmother, let alone a player of Anand's class.

Alert to the danger, Carlsen has included a chef in his entourage. Some people have ridiculed this move, saying he should enjoy the delights of local offerings — apparently forgetting he is not going to Chennai as a tourist, but to do an important job. As a prophylactic measure it is probably money very well spent.

With the same concern in mind, his manager has negotiated an optional "time-out" for each participant, in case of illness. This is not popular with the public and goes against the trend of ever shorter matches, but is by no means unprecedented historically. Indeed, in the great Karpov-Kasparov matches of the 80s and 90s each player could call a temporary halt to proceedings on no less than 3 occasions.

Age differenceAnand's last purely chess advantage is perhaps his opening play. Despite being from an older generation, he is adept at extremely sophisticated computer preparation. His dismantling of Kramnik in 2008 was a prime example of nuking an opponent before he could even begin to show his capabilities.

Carlsen's openings choices are far more intelligent and cunning than he is generally given credit for. Nevertheless he is not renowned as a theoretician and is much less likely to unleash devastating analysis-engine based novelties. With his immense versatility, however, he will probably be content to dodge the missiles, choosing less predictable variations, supremely confident in his own ability simply to outplay Anand from equal positions.

If Carlsen succeeds in this objective, I honestly don't see any way out for Vishy. He is conceding a colossal age advantage and sooner or later it is going to show. Chess is not an academic discipline where one can display one's accumulated erudition in written papers at one's leisure: it is a sport performed in the spotlight under enormous pressure.

For the past three years the sure-footedness that characterised Anand's finest period has largely deserted him. I don't doubt it is possible to raise his game, for this, the toughest match of his career. Whether he is likely to, though, is another matter. Eventually the end of the road comes to even the greatest of batsmen.

-- Nigel David Short MBE is a British Grandmaster, chess columnist, chess coach and chess commentator. Short earned the Grandmaster title at the age of 19, and was ranked third in the world by FIDE from January 1988 to July 1989. In 1993 he became the first English player to play a World Chess Championship match.)

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Magnus Carlsen Plays Volleyball, Badminton at Fisherman's Cove Nov 4-6; Heads to Hyatt Regency

World Chess Championship Challenger Magnus Carlsen, who checked into Taj-Fisherman's Cove beach resort here on November 4, spent most of his time by the pool side and played tennis and badminton, said a resort official Wednesday.

"He was at our property Nov 4-6. Carlsen spent most of his time relaxing by the poolside, enjoying a game of volleyball on the beach as well as tennis and badminton," the hotel official told IANS preferring anonymity.

The official added that Carlsen prefers his food to be medium spicy.

"He particularly relished spaghetti aglio olio with bacon, whole wheat croissants and cheese omelette with green chillies, while indulging in fresh mango juice during his stay," the official said.

Carlsen was served specially curated meals from the all-day diner Seagull and the Mediterranean specialty cuisine restaurant - Upper Deck, the official added.

The official said three premium indulgence sea view cottages and one superior charm room were booked by Carlsen and his eight-member team that included family personal chef and security personnel.

Carlsen is challenging the reigning world chess champion Viswanathan Anand. The first match is slated Nov 9 here. -- IANS

* Taj Vivanta's Fisherman's Cove - Chennai

The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) and its subsidiaries are collectively known as Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces and is recognised as one of Asia's largest and finest hotel company. Incorporated by the founder of the Tata Group, Mr. Jamsetji N. Tata, the company opened its first property, The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Bombay in 1903. The Taj, a symbol of Indian hospitality, completed its centenary year in 2003. Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces comprises 93 hotels in 55 locations across India with an additional 16 international hotels in the Maldives, Malaysia, Australia, UK, USA, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Africa and the Middle East.

- Vivanta by Taj - Fisherman's Cove, Chennai, built on the ramparts of an old Dutch fort, is now riding on a fresh new wave. Yet it remains the charming beach resort that's almost one with the Bay of Bengal. Where fun lovers return for good times. There's a nice new buzz however. In the renewed cottages and villas, the nouvelle restaurants, the high energy bar, and the spa where you'll go Ah! The Chef remains as eager to wow you with specially designed meals. Try mixing biz with fun and see how well wired the resort is.

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Norwegian Cultural Show at Anand vs Carlsen World Chess Championship Opening Ceremony

A still from a performance by the Villniss Dance Company in Norway recently. 

The Norwegian Embassy and Rikskonsertene will contribute with a unique and spectacular cultural input at the inauguration of the Chess World Championship in Chennai on November 7. This is upon invitation from the Tamil Nadu Government.

The performance by Villniss Dance Company, a dynamic actor in the scenic folk music and dance scene in Norway, involves artists with extensive experience, both nationally and internationally. The troupe is led by Silje Onstad Hålien, Norway’s leading female dancer in halling (traditional dance). She is accompanied by Ådne Kolbjørnshus along with Markus Andreassen, Norwegian Champion in breakdance 2013.

Musically, the dance movements will be framed by the beautiful traditional chanting (joik) of Georg Buljo. Olav Luksengård Mjelva will color the performance by his fiddle tunes and Micke Nilsson (percussion) will add a groove to the performance, together with an Indian tabla player.

At the Inauguration Ceremony of the Chess World Championship, Villniss will push the limits of the traditional halling dance, creating a spectacular show of Norwegian traditions and acrobatics.

Collaboration between Norwegian performers and Indian dancers from Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts in Bangalore will create a bridge between Indian and Norwegian music.

Artists: Haalien, Silje Onstad, dance
Kolbjornsrud, Aadne, dance
Andreassen, Markus, dance
Hema, Bharathi Palani, dance,
Kannanthara, Balakrishnan Ajeesh, dance
Mjelva, Olav Luxengaard, fiddle, hardanger fiddle (trad Norwegian fiddle)
Buljo, Georg, chanting (joik), guitar
Nilsson, Micke, drums, percussion
Krishan Mohan, tabla

Choreography/Concept:
Haalien, Silje Onstad, artistic leader Villniss Dance Company

In cooperation with:
Palazhy, Jayachandran, artistic director, Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts

Video production:
Villniss Dance Company ©

Head of Logistics:
Nørbech, Daniel, Rikskonsertene (Concerts Norway)

Artistic producer/project leader:
Frydenlund, Hallgeir, Rikskonsertene (Concerts Norway)

-- via The Royal Norwegian Embassy in New Delhi which is supporting the performance.

* World Chess Championship Patron Jayalalitha to Inaugurate Anand vs Carlsen at Gala Event

The Halling (hallingdansen) is a folk dance (bygdedans) traditionally performed in rural Norway, although versions of the halling can also be found in parts of Sweden.

The dance is traditionally performed by young men at weddings and parties. The halling is a quick (95-106 bpm) dance in 6/8 or 2/4 that includes acrobatic, athletic competition between the dancers. Hallingdans can best be described as rhythmic acrobatic dance and consists of a number of steps which requires both strength and softness elation. The dance is associated with the valleys and traditional districts of Valdres and Hallingdal, where it is often referred to as the laus (loose dance). The term refers to it being danced solo, not in couples (although coupled halling dancing is traditional in the western parts of the country). According to some scholars, the word may refer to the fact that the dance was "half" the performance, as the other half was the springar (after the fashion of a Renaissance dance suite).

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Legendary Chess Teacher Bruce Pandolfini: Clearly Most-Exciting Chess Event Since Fischer-Spassky!

Chess master, teacher, lecturer, and author Bruce Pandolfini (photo (c) Bruce Pandolfini) is a U.S. National Chess Master, chess teacher, lecturer, and author who has written more than thirty books on chess. Guess who's been his latest student? - Fabiano Caruana! (The young Grandmaster we've been hearing rumours about that he's worked with Viswanathan Anand for match versus Carlsen)

Pandolfini is generally considered to be among America’s best and most experienced chess educators, having possibly given more chess lessons than anyone in the world. He was famously portrayed by Ben Kingsley in the 1993 film 'Searching for Bobby Fischer, based on the book of the same name by Fred Waitzkin. Pandolfini told Chess Magazine Black and White:

Clearly, this is the most exciting chess event since the Fischer-Spassky match of 1972. Commentators around the world are betting heavily on the young lion, Carlsen, the highest rated player in history. But Anand is an incredible champion, who has been through the wars, and always seems to rise to the occasion. He is extremely resourceful and a great fighter. Still, Anand will have to be in his best form and continue to evince that resourceful sangfroid he is so admired for in order to stop what seems to be an irresistible juggernaut. Whatever happens, it will surely be great for chess, the game we all love.

* More Opinions on Anand vs Carlsen

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King of Chess Commentary: GM Sergey Shipov will be Live at Chess.TV from Moscow for Anand vs Carlsen

The year was 2012 when Magnus Carlsen, the Norwegian prodigy became the highest-rated ever chess-playing human on the planet. Sergey Shipov (right - photo via chessintranslation.com) remarked in his review at Crestbook: “He’s Kasparov’s heir – not Kramnik, Topalov or Anand”. Has the time come when his remark will see a manifestation?

From November 7 to 28 Chennai will host the main chess match of the year: the battle for the world championship. Viswanathan Anand, the reigning world champion, will defend his title one on one against Magnus Carlsen, the top ranked player in the world. Will the Norwegian challenger succeed in wresting away the title? Watch the games live on ChessTV as they are played on November 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18, 19, 21, 22, 24, and 26. The complete schedule of ChessTV live webcast is here.

Sergei Shipov (born April 17, 1966 in Murom) is a Russian chess grandmaster with a peak FIDE rating of 2662 (#23 in the world on the January 1999 list), chess journalist and author. He is the man behind the popular chess website crestbook.com, where, among other services, he provides online-comments to current chess events. You can also catch him busy in chess work at ChessinTranslation.com (The site for Russian chess news and interviews in English). GM Shipov with his fascinating and insightful commentary is going to be the guy to watch this season... particularly after he made the Anand vs Gelfand World Chess Championship commentary so memorable. All his commentary text on the World Chess Championship 2012 Anand vs Gelfand are available at ChessinTranslation.

GM Sergey Shipov even provided live text commentary for the Anand vs Gelfand tiebreak games! Now, how is that humanly possible? It is thanks to Shipov working with more than three computers at a time and his journo-chess player brain combination.

* Top 7 Commentators you would like to see at Anand vs Carlsen World Chess Championship

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Legendary Garry Kasparov goes Harry Potter-ish About Anand vs Carlsen: Won't be a Walkover for Carlsen...

Garry Kasparov's opinion on Anand vs Carlsen World Chess Championship in Chennai: By the time you read this, there have already been more than 2.5 thousand shares on Facebook of Garry Kasparov's column in the Business Insider (Photos (c) Garry Kasparov). But, chess aside, we know what Kasparov has been reading lately! ;) Most often Garry Kasparov is misunderstood by the Indian media whenever he utters anything against Viswanathan Anand. However, seen in their most chess-logical context, can anyone even refute what Kasparov says?

Garry Kasparov: A Win For Carlsen In The Upcoming World Championship Match Will Be A Huge Win For The Chess World

Kasparov and Anand atop the World Trade Center prior to their 1995 World Championship match in New York City. Mayor Rudy Giuliani made the honorary first move. Kasparov won the match with 4 wins, 1 loss and 13 draws.

 

Garry Kasparov is the 13th World Chess Champion and was the world’s #1-ranked player for 20 years, until he retired in 2005.
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I am about to head to India, where I will first speak at the THiNK conference in Goa before heading to Chennai to visit the much-anticipated world championship match between defending champion Viswanathan Anand, playing in his native city, and young Norwegian challenger Magnus Carlsen.

I won’t be there for the first game of the match on the 9th, but will arrive for games three and four before heading further east with Ignatius Leong on my first tour of Asian chess federations as part of my campaign for the presidency of the international chess federation, FIDE.

I am very familiar with both players, for different reasons, and of course I could not miss this spectacle. Anand was one of my top rivals for what I could call the second half of my chess career if I break it into “Karpov” and “post-Karpov” eras. As the great Anatoly finally slowed, Anand was one of the leaders of the new generation to challenge me at top events like Linares, along with Ivanchuk and Kramnik, to name but two others.

Anand would not wait long before challenging me in a world championship match, in 1995. And everyone realized that despite that loss to me in New York he would be a powerful force for many years to come – although I doubt even Vishy imagined then it would be quite so long! Young tigers do not think decades ahead. When I retired in 2005, I reminded Anand that now he was the “old man” of the circuit, fighting off the kids like Carlsen who were born in the same decade Vishy and I faced off high atop the World Trade Center.

 

Garry Kasparov training Magnus Carlsen in Croatia in 2009

This is one of the most anticipated matches in recent history and it is no insult to Anand, whose credentials are beyond doubt, that most of the anticipation circles around the 22-year-old challenger.

Magnus Carlsen rocketed to the top of the rating list almost without pause, displaying a consistency and tenacity rare in a young player to accompany his limitless talent.

Many gifted youngsters play impressive games; it was Carlsen’s will to win that set him apart. And though I was not exactly looking for a job as a coach when we worked together for a year in 2009, how could I resist?

I am no bearded Dumbledore, but it was impossible not to see Magnus as a type of Harry Potter, a super-talent destined to become one the greatest and to leave a deep mark (a lightning bolt?) on our ancient game. Carlsen enters the match as the obvious favorite despite his inexperience simply based on how superior his chess performance of the past few years has been to that of Anand, who has declined from his peak in every observable way. Nor can history be ignored. Carlsen is exactly half Anand’s age and the new generation is rarely turned back.

But when I was asked at my Stanford appearance last Sunday if I thought the match would be a walkover for Carlsen, my answer was emphatically negative. Carlsen is the favorite because results and objective quality must matter, but it will not be easy and it is not difficult to imagine a scenario in which he loses the match. Anand has deep experience at every level and that carries with it practical preparation advantages as well as psychological preparedness. According to Anand, he has been working very hard for this match, harder than ever in his life.

And while the world champion has never given much attention to matters of chess history or his legacy, he must know that his entire career will gain an extraordinary new dimension should he defeat the Norwegian wunderkind against the odds. Plus, Anand is playing at home, and while this can create negative pressure it is also a very powerful motivational force. It is much harder to end a training session when you know the eyes of a billion Indians will be on you! And with deep preparation there is always the chance of a powerful surprise or two, and in such a short match (just 12 games), an early shock could tip the match.

Some have suggested my rooting loyalties should lie with my fellow “old man,” Anand, and not with the 22-year-old who broke my rating record and who will share my record as youngest world champion ever should he prevail in Chennai. But while I cannot say I feel joy when one of my records falls, a win for Carlsen will also be a win for the chess world. Changing of the guard, new blood, a fresh face – all these clichés are clichés for a reason. Magnus is a dynamic young man eager to promote the sport, to raise its profile along with his own, and who can inspire a new generation of chess kids (and chess sponsors!) around the world.

Anand is a fantastic chessplayer who brings honor to the sport and to his nation with his skill and his boundless good nature. If he wins this match his high place on chess Olympus is assured. I am predicting a Carlsen victory because of his talent, his results, and the tides of chess history. I am rooting for a Carlsen victory because a new generation deserves a new champion. Most of all, I am hoping for big games, a hard fight, and a great boost for chess around the world as a legend and a legend in the making do battle in Chennai.

About the Author: Garry Kasparov is the 13th World Chess Champion and was the world’s #1-ranked player for 20 years, until he retired in 2005. He is the Chairman of the NY-based Human Rights Foundation and his Kasparov Chess Foundation works to support chess in education around the world. For more information, including his comments during the Anand- Carlsen match, see his official site, Facebook and Twitter. 

* All the posts on our site mentioning Garry Kasparov 

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World Chess Championship Patron Jayalalitha to Inaugurate Anand vs Carlsen Match at Gala Event

Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa will inaugurate the FIDE World Chess Championship Match 2013 on Thursday at a grand function at Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai. The actual match (of 12 games and tiebreaker if required) between five-time world chess champion Viswanathan Anand (43) and challenger Magnus Carlsen (22) of Norway will begin on Saturday.

The Chief Minister, who is the patron for the event, allocated Rs 29 crore for bringing the chess championship to Chennai. 

Jayalalithaa Jayaram (born 24 February 1948), commonly referred to as Jayalalithaa, is the Chief Minister of the state of Tamil Nadu, India. She was a popular film star in Indian cinema before her entry into politics, having appeared as main female lead heroine in over 140 films which includes films in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and worked in one Hindi film. She is the incumbent general secretary of the political party All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). She is called Amma ('Mother') and sometimes Puratchi Thalaivi ('Revolutionary Leader') by her supporters.

Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, president, Federation of Internationale Des Echecs (FIDE) will preside over the function. Tamil Nadu School Education Minister and Tamil Nadu State Chess Association president P R Venkatrama Raja will participate in the inaugural function, which will be followed by cultural programmes.

The match will take place at Hotel Hyatt Regency in Teynampet. About 400 people can witness the games by being seated in the hall separated from the players by a glass wall.

Last year, Anand successfully defended his title after defeating challenger Boris Gelfand in Moscow. After winning the title in Mexico in 2007, he defended it in Bonn (2008) and Sofia (2010). Anand first became world champion in 2000 after beating Alexei Shirov of Latvia in Tehran. Besides, he won the FIDE World Rapid Championship in 2003.

Magnus Carlsen (World No 1 in the FIDE rankings) won the Candidates Tournament 2013 played in London to become Anand’s official challenger. Carlsen has the highest FIDE elo rating of 2862 points. -- Agencies

* The Anand timeline

* How Carlsen came to be the one

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Friends to Chess Legends: Ram Bhat on Vishy Anand, Tarjei J. Svensen on Magnus Carlsen

Friends to Chess Legends: World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand and his Challenger Magnus Carlsen are both known as down to earth people who charm everyone they meet. Here are two interesting features: The first is in the Deccan Chronicle with Viswanathan Anand's friend Ram Bhat speaking about their friendship. The second is by
Tarjei J. Svensen speaking about Magnus Carlsen. The feature made it to the front page of the Indian Express. Bhat went on to become a hotelier and has always been at Anand's place for each of the latter's world title wins. Svensen went on to become a journalist and has been with Carlsen right through. 

When they first met... and friendship was forged forever:

Ram Bhat remembers Anand joining Class VI in Don Bosco after he returned from the Philippines. “He brought a fancy box type school bag that had wheels to pull it around. I used to sit on that box and irritate Anand. He will get angry, but he will not show it. Despite feeling displeased, he never raised his voice." Ram Bhat was Anand's bench mate at the Egmore school.

But by class nine, Ram was clear that Anand was in a different league. “Till class 8 or 9, he was a normal kid. Once he won the national junior and senior championships, we saw very little of him in school,“ said Ram, who added that in class 12, Anand's pre-board exam marks were average, but within two weeks, the scores improved and he got 200 in maths and chemistry and 192 in physics in the public exam.

“He was able to score high marks due to his attitude and grasping power. Anand was always in top five in class. We used to wonder what would have happened if he had attended classes as a regular student.

On the other hand, Svensen remembers: When I first saw Carlsen as a nine-year-old in April 2000, I knew he was something special. It may sound like a cliché, but he was different. Not only because he looked around three to four years younger than his actual age, but because he had completely outplayed a strong friend of mine to reach a winning position. 

He made a couple of mistakes and drew the game, but he had already made a huge impression on everyone. Still, the fact that this shy little kid would become the world's best chess player and a possible world chess champion was beyond all expectation. At that time, I attended Grandmaster Simen Agdestein's chess class at the Norwegian High School for Top Athletes.

For complete stories by these friends of the two participants of the World Chess Championship 2013 read Indian Express (Svensen) and Deccan Chronicle (Ram Bhat).

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