Jul 09, 2003 09:12 AM
6217 Views
(Updated Jun 19, 2004 08:23 AM)
Beware of dissipating your powers; strive constantly to concentrate them. Genius thinks it can do whatever it sees others doing, but it is sure to repent every ill-judged outlay. -- Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men - that is genius. -- Ralph Waldo Emerson
PROLOGUE
How fitting could it be to say that India has a true world champion (official World Cup Champion as of now!) in the game it invented and had as a pastime for so many centuries? As we all know, India has very few true world-class professionals in the sports arena. This is so true especially in the highly competed games. Chess is one of the few games that are played by almost every nation in the world. This makes Vishy a major force to reckon with. He is the one of the very few to take away the total dominance of Soviets of the game that was invented in India, along with Bobby Fischer etc.
INTRODUCTION & BIOGRAPHY
This 33+ year old from Chennai is a “one man chess revolution”, “blitz king”, “Tiger from Chennai”, “Youngest recipient of Padmashri & and a recipient of Padma Bhushan & Padma Vibhusan” and so on…, is a major force in the chess world. Having learnt chess as a toddler from his intelligent mom, Anand quickly inculcated the world-beater quality so quickly. His speed and intuitive intelligence made him a world-beater so quickly. He became the youngest National Champ at 16. He also became the first Asian to win Junior World cup, in 1987. His biggest break in international arena was in 1991 when he won the “Reggio Emilio” trophy in 1991 by beating both Karpov & Kasparov in individual games.
After this he had no turning back. He won so many events in his careers. Some of his highlights are ( I am including the greatest ones only
==> Amber Chess Tournament Champion – 2003, 1997 & 1994
==> Wijk Aan Zee Champion – 2003
==> FIDE World Cup Championship – 2002 & 2000
==> He won the greatest and strongest Knockout championship in the history at Groningen(1997).
==> Linares Champion in 1998
==> Eurotel Champion 2002
==> Credit Suisse Masters 1997
==> Dos Hermanas 1997
==> Torneo Madrid 1997
==> Dortmund 1996 & 2000
==> Tilburg (1998)
==> and Merida (2001).
==> The list is just endless...
He also led rest of the world to beat Russia in 2002. He is also the youngest Indian to get an ELO of 2500. First Indian GM (Actually I was watching the tournament in CBE in 1987 when be achieved this norm! How nice!!)
To tell you about honors, the list is just endless. Just take a look at (https://tnqsponsorship.com/Vishwaawards.html) to get an idea.
He is also one of the highest civilian award of Spain “Jameo de Oro” conferred on him, a doctorate in chess. The only non-russian recipient to win a chess oscar (twice in 97 & 98), apart from legendary Bobby Fischer.
ANAND – MY OPINION
His Work:-
If you want to take Indian chess scenario, you need to take a look at “India before Anand & India After Anand”. Such is the drastic change he brought forth in this country. He has revolutionized the game in India, single-handedly. His innovativeness and the methods to develop the game in India are simply applaudable. India was not even in the frame before Vishy, on a large-scale. Hats off to him, there are so many talented youngsters discovered and are contributing to this game greatly. His work along with NIIT is just great. This is just invisible in many of the other stars in the sports field. Like he said recently, the way this game is growing, it is very difficult to make it, if you really don’t get a GM norm by 14. That’s how fast this game is growing. Thanks to his guidance and leadership we are able to see ShashiKirans and Vijayalakshmis from India.
His Game:-
Anand, who is rated 2774 as per FIDE and is third in the world behind Kasparov (Considered to be greatest ever) & Kramnik, is a major force in the world of chess. He is widely known for his blitz-kreig style chess. He is the best (in my opinion) when it comes to Rapid chess. While he is a bit behind when it comes to conventional chess, compared to the maestro Garry, he is the King of Rapid Chess. Some of his moves were so brilliant that made Kasparov sweat so many times. Do any of you remember the faces Garry made in the 1997 WTC tournament? It was quite hilarious. This alone makes this guy a class-act
My Notes:-
I had a wonderful opportunity to interview him for my college magazine a while back, along with my classmate. It is quite memorable incident in my life. This down-to-earth world champion is a pleasant person to talk to. His answers were so intriguing and straight-from-the-heart and also so intelligent. His book “My Best games of Chess” is a must read for all Chess Aficionados and has some masterful thoughts from the master himself.
This Hijo Predelicto(Famous Son) of Collado Mediano(where he lives), is the only true world champion who has always been consistent for all of his career. He is a champion not only by means of winning tournament, but by the way he propels the game he loves so much. He is a true champion of hearts of many. I wouldn’t be really surprised, if he is awarded the “Bharat Ratna” in the very near future and is the youngest one to get that too.
VISHY ANAND – A TRUE WORLD CHAMPION
I Hope you liked my review. Please shower in your comments.
Kalil
There is no such thing as a self-made man. We are made up of thousands of others. Everyone who has ever done a kind deed for us, or spoken one word of encouragement to us, has entered into the makeup of our character and our thoughts, as well as our success. - Adams, George Matthew
The men who succeed are the efficient few. They are the few who have the ambition and will power to develop themselves. – Herbert N Casson
