Interview/ Viswanathan Anand, five-time world champion
In the world of chess, Viswanathan Anand is a king—crowned five times, hailed even today. It has been an incredible journey, from the sun-drenched streets of Chennai to the global stage.
Anand, 56, is still striding across the 64 squares with intent. The brilliant second-place finish at the recent Tata Steel India Rapid in Kolkata was a testimony to his undying passion for the game. His new book Lightning Kid: 64 Winning Lessons from the Boy Who Became Five-Time World Chess Champion, with Susan Ninan (published by Hachette India), has a lesson for each square on the board. It is an adaptation of their 2019 title Mind Master: Winning Lessons from a Champion’s Life.
The original ‘Lightning Kid’, who shocked the world by playing at a pace most couldn’t even think of then, joined THE WEEK for a chat about the book, the influence of AI and social media on young chess players, about D. Gukesh and R. Praggnanandhaa and others, his role as FIDE deputy president, and more. Edited excerpts:
Q/ You have written several books on chess for adults, but Lightning Kid is for youngsters. Tell us about it.
It’s the same story as Mind Master, but we wrote it for a younger audience. It’s not like I have a solution for something, but it will be nice for them to know what I went through. Each can learn their own lesson. That was the idea of the book, also to be a little bit more light-hearted.
Q/ Was it difficult for you to adapt this book for the younger generation?
Not at all. I have been lucky over the last 14 years to have my son (Akhil) growing up. It gives you a little extra perspective. Being a father is a life-changing experience. I am not claiming universal expertise, but it took me back to my own childhood and what I learnt then. What I would like them to take away from this book is that whatever you are doing is important. If you succeed, good for you. But if you fail, or it doesn’t work, and you feel like everything is coming to an end, you should care about the things you do. You should do it with intensity and passion, and in six months, you will feel better.
Q/ You wrote about how your openings in chess were drawn from books such as Chess Openings: Theory and Practice and later, Chess Fundamentals. Now, chess engines give you millions of opening options. How much is too much, especially for youngsters?
I would put it this way. Every generation feels there is too much information in chess. Nowadays, you can learn very fast and improve very fast. You have a personalised coach on your laptop, and you can ask a lot of questions. The problem, of course, is that everybody does it, and then it’s an arms race.
It’s necessary to understand; the correct answer is given to everyone now. But how to be different from others? By understanding the answer, understanding the details, why that answer was given, and how it applies to other situations.
Access to technology is what allows chess to become a global sport. Wherever you are born, you have a fair chance. At the same time, this doesn’t give you an advantage. It’s a tool, and you have to learn how to use it effectively.
Q/ What would you tell the young chess players about social media? It wasn’t there when you were growing up.
With social media, every person has the tool to let everyone know what they think of any subject. My parents once told me, ‘There are people who aren’t necessarily nice; there are people who aren’t necessarily going to play by our rules; who aren’t necessarily going to play fair. You just have to learn to deal with it’.
You have to learn which opinions to ignore, which are useful, which feedback is constructive. You also need to consider how people say things, how accurate they are, and how they say it without bias. You have to learn the skill of spotting these things.
Also, consider the effect it has on you. As I narrate in the book, what other people said hurt me until I understood how to put it in the right perspective. If I want to concentrate on a tournament, for some time before and after, I do not go online at all. It is important to be focused and not to let people upset you. I think people will be able to take it and apply it on the scale needed today.
Q/ You recently said that AI is now the ‘coach’s coach’, and advised children not to rely solely on ‘readymade’ AI answers. How has your own routine evolved compared with the 80s and 90s?
You cannot compare how we worked in the 80s to now. But again, we have evolved slowly over the years. I focus on understanding, not information; not the right answers or knowing what the right move is, but understanding why it is so, so that even if I forget, I can reconstruct.
Q/ You say in the book that chess has become more of a spectator sport. Is there anything about this ‘celebrity’ version of chess that worries you? Does it add any pressure on the players?
No, it has become easier to present the game. We have more technology and more graphics. Suddenly, it has demystified the game because more people are able to enjoy it, even casual observers.
Do you want your sport to be played privately, hidden in a dark room? I mean, you just have to adjust.
Q/ Chess is a mind game, but what about the physical strain?
When you put in four or five hours of thinking, you are definitely going to be tired. I think this is one area where physical exertion has increased over the years. Nowadays, players play many more games across various time controls. Plus, a lot of time is spent working with computers, and so on.
Earlier generations would generally play a few games of tennis or some other similar sport. Nowadays, I think all players go to a gym. Combating fatigue and tension is very important in chess.
Q/ What are your thoughts on the Total Chess World Championship, which combines Fast Classical, Rapid, and Blitz formats?
It’s an innovative idea. We (FIDE) are going to try it out this year, and we are very excited to partner with the Norwegian chess federation. We want to evolve classical chess into a faster version, and we are going to see how it works. If it grows the game, then that’s mission accomplished.
Q/ We are looking at a potential World Championship match in Chennai this year between two of your protégés—D. Gukesh and R. Praggnanandhaa. How does it feel? Who would you put your money on?
(Smiles) You are taking a one-versus-seven bet! I believe Prag (Praggnanandhaa) is quite determined. And if it happens, I don’t even know what they will go through! They grew up together in the same neighbourhood; they studied in the same school. It’s going to be such an intense match. I don’t have any predictions. I am thinking more of Prag’s odds of getting there than what happens next. Ask me once it happens.
Q/ For a ‘semi-retired’ player, you are still sharp, as we saw at the Tata Steel India Rapid in Kolkata. How do you keep the fire in you alive?
I knew the event was coming, and, in a way, accepting it gave me motivation. Also, three tournaments came one after another. So, the Jerusalem Masters was kind of a slow start. I enjoyed the Global Chess League a lot. When I came to Kolkata, I was ready. So, I am going to try to play more this year as well. I was very happy with my rapid performance, and I think it is something to build on.
Q/ 50 years down the line, how do you think the world will remember you—as the winner of five world titles or as the ‘Lightning Kid’ who inspired a generation?
I think both! Why should I choose? (Laughs) I don’t think about my legacy a lot. One of the things I understand, and hopefully the book has made it clear, is that you have to live in the moment. I am excited about the time I spend at home with my family and the time I get to catch up with friends. These are the benefits of a lighter schedule. You have to enjoy life because it goes by very fast.