Grandmaster in trouble

More and more corporates have shown willingness to absorb promising players in their organisations and field them in tournaments of repute, more and more parents are inducting their children into chess at a very young age with the fond desire and hope of seeing them emulate Anand. All this has happened in the euphoria of a series of mind-boggling performances by one man called Viswanathan Anand.

The country owes its present chess power and the AICF owes its present status to Anand. When this is the case, for the AICF seemingly to expect its own benefactor to come to it now for support to wield influence in the World Chess Federation (Fide), seems highly improper. If a poll is taken amongst the chess enthusiasts in the country, the overwhelming verdict on the poser given by Nandnan will be: the AICF should act immediately on its own or through its representative in the FIDE, to protect the interests of India’s only Super GM if it is not already too late. It is a pity that Anand’s interests were not taken care of at the initial stage by the AICF while negotiations for unification of chess bodies were under way last year.

Viswanathan Anand, like Tendulkar in cricket, is that proverbial bird laying the golden eggs and chess in India is bound to prosper further in the future through him. It is hoped that wiser counsel will prevail so as this scenario is not sabotaged. Tendulkar, it seems, is well protected by his controlling body, the BCCI. Likewise, the AICF must protect Anand.

Though Anand is not playing in India now, he quietly builds up the image and prestige of this country with his commendable performances abroad. For India to win the Chess Olympiad, in my opinion, it should have at least 3 more GMs of the calibre of Anand, capable of overwhelming the world’s top players.

Compelling Anand to play for the team with its present strength may not serve the purpose either for the team or for Anand. Specialised training and increased exposure in international events for our existing GMs may be the solution. I request Nandnan and other chess scribes in the country to persuade the chess organisers, in a way in which only they can, to somehow extricate Anand from this imbroglio. He certainly deserves their help.