Chennai, Nov 7:
As a stern test awaited his quest for a sixth title, Indian chess wizard Viswanathan Anand was a picture of confidence and he promised an attacking game against Magnus Carlsen of Norway in the much-awaited World Championship match that begins here on Saturday.
Anand, the undisputed world champion since 2007, faces a strong challenge from the 22-year-old Norwegian sensation Carslen in one of the most awaited World Chess Championship matches in recent history.
Asked how well he has prepared for the event, Anand said, “I worked as I always did. Couple of months of training and I think I am ready to attack. We will see how it goes but I think I am ready to play.”
“I am really excited to play in my home city. I am looking forward to the match starting and getting on to that,” he said after the inauguration of the event by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.
In terms of hype, the match between five-time champion Anand and world number one Carlsen is comparable to the historic clash between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky way back in 1972.
The two players sought to play a bit of mind games in their first press conferences ahead of the match, with Carlsen refusing to disclose the names of his seconds after Anand said Indian Grandmasters K Sasikiran and Sandipan Chanda, Hungarian Peter Leko and Poland’s Radoslav Wojtaszek would assist him in the November 9-28 event.
“I appreciate Mr Anand’s openness about his team but I will say I am not going to return the favour,” Carlsen said.
“I am happy today. It is good to be here. Everything is good so far and I am looking forward to the match starting,” said the current world number one Carlsen who won the right to contest against Anand after winning the Candidates Tournament earlier this year.
Asked about his response on Carlsen refusing to name his seconds, Anand said, “Since he cannot believe the whole truth about it and either of us, it does not really matter. I mean, I can answer a question honestly but you will never know whether it was the whole truth or not. The same goes for him. So, it does not really matter too much.” (PTI)
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