Twinterview
Viswanathan Anand
Viswanathan Anand
To most of us, Anand is the embodiment of success and high performance. But his journey to the pinnacle of world chess hasn't been easy. From failure to virtual neglect by the game's elite, Anand saw it all before his golden reign of the last three years, when he has been simply unbeatable as the world champion. But he never let the demons take control. He always worked back his way. But then, just what makes him tick? We asked the man himself.
Concentration, Competition and Capability
- Forbes India : Hello & welcome to our Twitter interview with World Chess Champ Viswanathan Anand. Vishy will be with us shortly, but first... ground rules
- Forbes India : Anand's new to Twitter. We know he's a really, really smart and a blitz phenomenon, but don't drown him in tweets, please. (contd)
- Forbes India : If you want to ask him a question, tweet @forbes_india - our team is standing by to select the best questions and RT them to Anand
- Forbes India : Easy way to follow the twinterview: http://business.in.com/conversation/twinterview/viswanathananand has a live feed...
- Forbes India : ...Where you can see the interview in real time without any distractions from others you follow :)
- Forbes India : Or you can follow this list - http://twitter.com/forbes_india/twinterviews - where you will see only the Anand interview
- Forbes India : Unless @motorcycleyogi @chetan_bhagat or @mehmoodkhan is also online!
- Forbes India : Oh, and those of you following @vishyanand - that's not really him. It's somebody impersonating him.
- Forbes India : Right. Almost time. We're talking to Viswanathan Anand, Vishy to fans, @vishy64theking to Twitter
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking First, congratulations on retaining your title! And now, welcome to Twitter!
- vishy anand : @forbes_india hello everyone thank you very much.
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking We have lots of questions for you, and we're sure more will come in as we go along. Shall we get started?
- vishy anand : @forbes_india sure lets go!
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking So. the Lightning Kid is now over 40. What's it feel like, Champ?
- vishy anand : @forbes_india Its not a big deal, I feel the same, just entering your age in places surprises you!
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking Enough with the page 3 questions. First. Three-part question coming up from @IndrajitGupta our Editor
- Forbes India : 1/3 @vishy64theking It's said that at the highest level, Indian chess players suffer from lack of discipline and systematic thinking.
- Forbes India : 2/3 @vishy64theking Did you ever feel that at any stage? If so, how did you personally deal with it?
- Forbes India : 3/3 @vishy64theking Corollary: Which nations have consistently done well in chess? What do they do differently to groom talent?
- vishy anand : @forbes_india I think its wrong to generalize about nations, esp. in something so individualistic like chess
- vishy anand : @forbes_india I had my years when I drifted and had fun, but eventually I understood that to become world champion I had to get serious
- vishy anand : @forbes_india also, one can learn these skills by working with the right people, so willingness to learn is the main thing
- vishy anand : @forbes_india I can only think about Russia as an example I think its due to their system of talent-spotting and coaching
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking another question coming up from @IndrajitGupta
- Forbes India : 1/2 @vishy64theking Your Mr Nice Guy image is a direct contrast to the almost brutal, cold, clinical image of chess champ in the past.
- Forbes India : 2/2 @vishy64theking Did you ever feel the pressure to conform to this stereotype?
- vishy anand : @forbes_india on the contrary it was harder to deal with the pressure of not conforming! Finally I just became comfortable in my own skin
- vishy anand : @forbes_india it is a stereotype though. most chess players are pretty easy going except at the board
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking A number of questions from our Srinivasan, our Desk chief, @madraschap a keen chess fan
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking You were quiet as a child. Did you ever suffer from lack of self-confidence? If yes, how did you overcome that?
- vishy anand : @forbes_india sure
- vishy anand : @forbes_india I think confidence ebbs and flows. As I got better, I simply had issues with different players. I mainly worked on my chess
- vishy anand : @forbes_india I think even now I have to remind myself that at the board you have to be confident
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking more from @madraschap: Which is your favourite chess piece?
- vishy anand : @forbes_india if there is one, I would say the knight but i will play the position I have!
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking That's good advice for life in general!
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking If you and Topalov were stranded together on a desert island, what would you do to pass the time? :)
- vishy anand : @forbes_india that would depend on the island rules but with him at least I can practise my Spanish
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking Ha! Indeed!
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking Does it bother you that before you had your chance to beat him in a world championship match, Kasparov retired?
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking Would you like to play him now?
- vishy anand : @forbes_india I thought about it, but life is relentless. within a few months, it was obvious that Topalov had improved a lot
- vishy anand : @forbes_india and every year, someone else comes along....Aronian, Carlsen, Karjakin and so on
- vishy anand : @forbes_india so you have new challenges to face, but it would have been fun to play him again
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking Tell us, of all the many, many games you've played, which is the best of all? Closest to your heart? And why?
- vishy anand : @forbes_india that is a very tough one to pick. I like my first round win with Lautier in Biel 1997, my win with Morozevich in Mexico.....
- vishy anand : @forbes_india gave me a big lead in regaining my title. Also, right now, my final game with Topalov is rather fresh in my head
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking If you were to coach a 15-year-old Anand today, what would you tell him?
- vishy anand : @forbes_india that nothing at the board matches up to the worries before a game!
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking so many of us learn that as we go along - not to worry too much before the event
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking For readers with children, and stars in their eyes: What would you say is the right age to begin playing chess?
- vishy anand : @forbes_india exactly, most worrying is wasted energy
- vishy anand : @forbes_india I think the child can be introduced to the game as early as 3 or 4. As they become comfortable with the pieces they will...
- vishy anand : slowly become curious and if it captures their imagination, thats the main thing.
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking That's critical. That the kid enjoys it and doesn't feel pressured.
- vishy anand : @forbes_india yes absolutely children will take to chess themselves, but it should never be imposed.
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking Playing with black, just exactly when do you know that you have equalised White's starting advantage?
- vishy anand : @forbes_india when your pieces are well placed and you dont see any plan for your opponent that worries you. of course, sometimes....
- vishy anand : @forbes_india black doesnt even play for equality and aims for something unbalanced to maximise winning chances
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking If an opening were to be named after you, which is the set of moves you would suggest?
- vishy anand : @forbes_india I have always enjoyed the Slav defence and the Sicilian defence. However, most of the best lines have been taken already!
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking Okay. :) But if that were to happen, would you like it named after you or something else? Like say, The Madras Blitz? :)
- vishy anand : @forbes_india hmmm, I dont mind, but I guess it would be cool to have an opening named after me. Maybe I should work on one!
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking We'll wait for that! Now. A few questions from Ashish Mishra @akm1410 who you met.
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking Ashish is now walking around office sneering at us and saying 'gambit' under his breath.
- vishy anand : @forbes_india sure go ahead
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking @akm1410 wants to know why there are so few woman chess players at the top level. Are male and female brains are different?
- vishy anand : @forbes_india a tricky question. it stands to reason that women should not lag behind too much in chess, but except for Judit Polgar....
- vishy anand : @forbes_india they have. I think their lower levels of participation are responsible. As more of them play, they are getting better.
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking Aside from Judit Polgar, most women seem to want to play only in the women's circuits. Comment?
- vishy anand : @forbes_india i think its fine that we have a womens world championship cycle and rankings. However, lots of them play in mixed events...
- vishy anand : as well and I think thats why their results are slowly improving. Still, it would be something if another woman broke into the top 10.
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking Any Indian women with a chance at breaking in to the top?
- vishy anand : @forbes_india Koneru Humpy has crossed 2600 and I think Harika is good as well. Saranya and Mahalakshmi also are quite promising.
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking Now, some questions that came in from readers via Twitter and email.
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking RT @Thesaint8x Who are your 2 favourite chess authors? (I asked 2 because Dvoretsky is obviously streets ahead of the rest)
- vishy anand : @forbes_india John Nunn explains chess very well. Jonathan Rowson I enjoy reading because he will try to explore chess' relationship...
- vishy anand : with the broader world
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking RT @Thesaint8x 2 lines of play clear 1)to a probably won endgame 2) a probable checkmate which one would you choose to play?
- vishy anand : @forbes_india that is one of the most difficult questions in chess. Probable is the key word: if I am not sure, then it depends on the.....
- vishy anand : probability of being wrong! I would look around and see what I might have missed and then go with instinct.
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking From Ranjit Nair via email: What is the one advice you will give which has equal importance in chess and life?
- vishy anand : @forbes_india I would say: relax, its not under your control anyway.
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking From Vivek Seth via email: Has any of your chess strategies been inspired by management gurus? (Related question coming up)
- Forbes India : From @indrajitgupta @vishy64theking For busy executives who get easily distracted by a million things...
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking ...do you have any tips on how to train the mind and improve concentration?
- vishy anand : @forbes_india I would imagine so, though to identify a specific example is trickier.
- vishy anand : @forbes_india I do as well, but when I work on chess, I strive to block everything else out. Literally, going somewhere secluded....
- vishy anand : and not reading stuff which might distract me. Just immersing myself in chess. Things like not answering the phone for a while or not......
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking From @zigzackly Tell us about Vidya Sagar and your work with the organisation.
- vishy anand : checking mail I think can apply to executives as well.
- vishy anand : @forbes_india As for concentration, I concentrate better on a problem when its new and exciting rather than the same old stuff....
- vishy anand : @forbes_india So finding fun stuff to learn makes me more productive at studying chess
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking From @zigzackly Tell us about Vidya Sagar and your work with the organisation. It's evidently dear to your heart.
- vishy anand : @forbes_india I found that kids with cerebral palsy actually played and enjoyed chess and thats how it got started. Vidya Sagar helps....
- vishy anand : children with those issues, so we linked up. Everywhere you find the same thing, that a little help can go a long way, so thats what...
- vishy anand : we try to highlight. This year, lots of them graduated, one is in journalism, one did accountancy and so on. Money helps always, but...
- vishy anand : simply increasing peoples awareness that they can lead productive lives and contribute is important as well.
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking Exactly. And good luck with your efforts to help with that!
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking What have you got to say to the people who are pretending to be you on Twitter?
- vishy anand : @forbes_india thank you very much
- vishy anand : @forbes_india I would tell them that I can handle it from here and maybe fix any damage :-)
- Forbes India : @vishyanand64theking We're running out of time. Let's end with a Blitz round. We give you a word, you have 3 seconds to reply. Okay?
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking Just say whatever comes to mind.
- Forbes India : @vishyanand64theking This is just so we can tell our grandchildren we put The Lightning Kid under time pressure.:)
- vishy anand : @forbes_india ok give it a shot
- Forbes India : @vishyanand64theking And the clock starts:
- Forbes India : @vishyanand64theking Blitz: Chess
- vishy anand : @forbes_india queen!
- Forbes India : @vishyanand64theking Blitz: King
- vishy anand : @forbes_india safety
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking Blitz: Kick-boxing
- vishy anand : @forbes_india injury!
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking Blitz: Food
- vishy anand : @forbes_india mexico
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking Blitz: Aaron
- vishy anand : @forbes_india Euwe
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking Blitz: Space travel
- vishy anand : @forbes_india wont come back
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking Blitz: Cooking
- vishy anand : @forbes_india not me!
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking Blitz: Trekking
- vishy anand : @forbes_india tiring but fun
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking Blitz: Kasparov
- vishy anand : @forbes_india baku
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking Blitz: Astronomy
- vishy anand : @forbes_india galaxies
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking Blitz: Kramnik
- vishy anand : @forbes_india Bonn
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking Blitz: Sacrifice
- vishy anand : @forbes_india how much?
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking Blitz: Fisher
- vishy anand : @forbes_india 1972
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking Blitz: Resign
- vishy anand : @forbes_india better my opponent
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking Blitz: Moon landing
- vishy anand : @forbes_india armstrong
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking Blitz: Mate
- vishy anand : @forbes_india which kind :-)
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking Blitz: Aruna
- vishy anand : @forbes_india ok guys gotta go
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking Last two?
- vishy anand : @forbes_india ok
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking Blitz: Salsa
- vishy anand : @forbes_india with my doritos
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking Blitz: Madras or Chennai
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking Blitz: Twitter
- vishy anand : @forbes_india chennai
- vishy anand : @forbes_india tweet to you too!
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking Thank you so much for your time. It's been great. We hope everyone enjoyed it as much as we did here in Forbes India
- vishy anand : @forbes_india yes I did. thanks a lot.
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking And our nandri to Aruna for helping to put this together!
- vishy anand : @forbes_india bye everyone
- vishy anand : @forbes_india she says de nada
- Forbes India : @vishy64theking Good luck with whatever's up next. Including your new twitter fans. Thanks again, and bye for now.
- vishy anand : @forbes_india thanks. bye