Interview/ Viswanathan Anand, five-time world champion
Last August, Gukesh D. overtook Viswanathan Anand to become the highest-rated Indian chess player. It was a bittersweet moment for Anand; on the one hand, his 37-year reign had ended, but on the other, it was one of his proteges who had dislodged him.
On April 21, Gukesh went one step further. He won the candidates tournament, the youngest to do so at 17, and will now face champion Ding Liren of China later in the year. “This is the greatest accomplishment by any of the current crop of Indian talents,” Anand told THE WEEK in an interview where he spoke about the feat, Gukesh’s chances against the champion and what sets him apart. Excerpts:
Q/ Having worked with Gukesh, how satisfied are you personally with this feat?
A/ There is not much room for interpretation. This is a historic record. [He is the] youngest ever candidate, which gives him the possibility to be the youngest world champion. I feel very, very happy that we have been working together for four years with WACA (WestBridge Anand Chess Academy), and that it has happened so fast, that he has exploded in strength.
Q/ How would you sum up Gukesh’s campaign in the candidates?
A/ He was steady throughout. He got a plus-score very fast, dropped the plus-score slightly with the one setback in that tournament, which was against [Alireza] Firouzja. He then steadied the ship, won the very next day, and fought back to a good position. He just played the position in front of him. He did not do anything crazy. And it looks almost preordained, but five or ten minutes before the result came in, we were looking at a tiebreak because [Fabiano] Caruana’s position was so winning (the game between Caruana and Ian Nepomniachtchi ended in a draw; if either had won, they would have faced Gukesh in a tiebreak). And so there is that element of uncertainty as well. These are some of the highest-rated players in history. To be half-point ahead of them in this field, in this setting, is mind-boggling.
Q/ What sets Gukesh apart from the young brigade of Indians?
A/ Before the tournament, I was not able to pick from one of the Indians. I thought they all had a chance. But I think, slowly, it is beginning to take shape. One thing that stood out in Toronto was his ability not to be affected by the atmosphere or by the results. And sometimes if you look relaxed, you probably are relaxed. He has that self-control.
Q/ Gukesh did not rely on chess engines in his early years. Do you think that was a risky move?
A/ I do not think it was a risky move. Because the point is, you can look at the engines yourself. Or one of your trainers can do it for you. I mean, in the end, we are all benefiting from it. It is the same as you looking up a restaurant on the phone or your friend doing it, and then you walk together [to it]. But what I like is the attitude. What he is saying is, ‘I am going to try and solve every position in my head while you are checking and giving me the right answer.’ And I think he got that discipline or desire quite early. And it is quite rare for a young person to exercise that kind of self-control. That is pretty impressive.
Q/ How do you assess his chances against Ding Liren?
A/ I think very decent. On current form. That is a very important statement because a lot will change between now and when the match happens, which is scheduled for November or December. But on current form, Gukesh has done spectacularly. [Look at] his performance in Toronto against peers of Ding [like] [Hikaru] Nakamura, Caruana and Nepomniachtchi. All these players are top 10 rivals, and Ding is in fact now behind Gukesh in the rating list. But the point is, it is a special match and he should work hard and get up to speed. I am pretty confident he will do that.
Q/ Is this the biggest moment of this new era of Indian chess?
A/ Yes. Had they won the Olympiad two years ago, you could at least begin to compare it. But come on, this is a candidate and at an individual level, this is the greatest accomplishment by any of the current crop of Indian talents.
Q/ There could be this cloud hanging over any world champion now that Magnus Carlsen is not in the race. Would that affect public perception?
A/ No, it is what it is. I mean, Magnus has made it pretty clear he is not going to play. But this candidates, you saw the public reaction to it. They still know a great rivalry. They saw these four players all able to qualify in the last round, all able to fight for the tiebreaks and the struggle they put up. I feel that people will enjoy Magnus’s games when he plays them and they will also enjoy this kind of chess. You will always have fans for [this] because it is gripping... there is emotion, drama, everything. I mean, this is just fantastic. And the numbers we are getting are also outstanding.
Q/ What would be the defining moment for you to say that world chess has entered into this Indian era?
A/ I am wary of these kinds of statements. This time, we got five people in. I mean, you can highlight what [Koneru] Humpy and Vaishali [Rameshbabu] did in the women’s section as well. I would not rule out that, based on qualifications, next time we have zero or four. Essentially, you have got 15 to 20 players, really strong players, fighting for eight spots. And so there is always this element of uncertainty. I continue to say that if you have four horses, you are going to do well in every race. And I think it is reasonable to look forward to at least one Indian in some stage of something, even in every major tournament. But I try not to get into Indian domination and all that yet. No country will ever dominate like the Soviet Union once did. That era has passed.