9 Facts about the World Chess Championship (Video)

Hello chess blog friends, it's a rest day at the World Chess Championship today. Magnus Carlsen continues to lead a point ahead of Viswanathan Anand after eight games. Meanwhile, we found this cool video on 9 facts about the world chess championship. Enjoy. Don't forget to send us your favourite chess videos as well.





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World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen's top-13 Chess Tips Video

Hello chess blog friends, World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen gives his Top 13 chess tips in this video. Don't miss the bloopers at the end! Enjoy... it's a fun video!




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Are you looking for free videos to improve your chess?How about learning chess from 12th Women's World Chess Champion? Check out the award-winning free chess video/podcast databasewww.chesskillertips.com.

 

Five-TIme World Chess Champion Philosophy: You're Your Only Competition, Says Anand

Hello chess blog friends, former World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand is looking at another world chess title this November. Anand told the Economic Times, he feels confident and is prepared well to challenge World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen in Sochi from November 7.

World Champions two: Five-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand chats with 12th Women's World Chess Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk in Moscow, 2009. For great photos of the world's best chess players, check out www.chesspics.com.

"I am in competition with myself. Now it is the last mile of preparation," he says. Last time, in an interview to the ET, Anand said mentioned "Coffee & Coldplay" as his addictions. When asked, what has changed since then, he replied "Coffee has gotten better this time. Even I make good coffee nowadays. Although the music mix has remained the same. Five Little Ducks seems to be a new hit now and Peppa Pig is a tension reliever!"

"I can say I am happy with my chess" he says, "at Khanty my play was very much like how I liked to play. I am happy that I have been able to play the chess I want. Of course chess theory has no constant. It has been fun that we have so many high level events to follow."

"Theory" means the myriad ways in which a particular opening can be played. Grandmasters are constantly on the lookout for refinements and improvements played in tournaments all over the world. Anand explains, "When you prepare for a match you are afraid that two club-level players could upset your whole theory".

Has his assessment of Magnus changed since last year? "That is a question after the match is over" he parries. When pressed on the point he takes the big picture, "There have been new developments in chess and certain players like Fabiano have been exceptional achievers this year. This surely influences chess and how we players assimilate".

Anand refuses to be drawn into his opponent's mindgames, "My opponent has to be asked that question" he says, on why there was so much drama around the venue. He emphasizes, "After winning the Candidates I was clear on who I was working against" making it clear that he always thought that Carlsen would sign in the end. Anand, who has a good fan following in Russia, does not share Carlsen's apprehensions about Sochi. "Aruna has inspected the venue and the arrangements seem fine".

Anand says, "You keep running looking at the goal in front of you. Kilometres done, slope climbed. You try to increase your heart rate. When you are on it you only hear your breathing and you realize the only competition is your mind and body. In a way that is how I look at my career. I enjoy working on chess. I am happy that I have a good life. A bit of everything... makes life complete".

DOWN MEMORY LANE: WHEN WORLD CHAMPIONS MEET

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Magnus Carlsen formally Crowned World Chess Champion 2013 in Chennai

Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013

Hello everyone,

Norway's Magnus Carlsen receiving the World Chess Champion's trophy from politician and main sponsor J Jayalalitha and FIDE president Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, in Chennai, on Monday / Official Website 

World No.1 Magnus Carlsen of Norway was formally crowned the World Chess Champion at a glittering, brief ceremony in Chennai on Monday afternoon.

The closing ceremony had no speeches, only background announcements in Tamil and English. National anthems of both Norway and India were also played.

Jayalalithaa gave away the winner's gold trophy to Carlsen, amid loud cheers from supporters. She also honoured the 22-year-old Norwegian with an olive garland from the Nilgiri hills, while World Chess Federation president Kirsan Illyumzhinov presented him a gold medal. Magnus Carlsen earned US $1,582,732/€ 1,169,883 for his efforts. Anand, who lost the crown in his home city, was rewarded with prize money of US $964,028/€ 711,021 and a silver medal.

Carlsen became the new world chess champion after defeating Anand by 6.5-3.5 in 12 game match held between November 7 and 22. The crucial tenth game went in a draw and favoured Carlsen to claim the title.

Former world champion Viswanathan Anand, who had checked out of the Presidential Suite on Saturday morning, came directly from his home and left after the ceremony. The ceremony lasted 15 minutes and started a few minutes ahead of the scheduled time.

Anand was dressed formally in tie and jacket and Carlsen had his jacket on. The venue was the same hall in which the ten games were played. Over 500 people attended the crowded ceremony which also witnessed huge security personnel both inside and outside the hotel.

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Anand - Carlsen World Chess Match TV Viewership: Between 100 and 200 million!

Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013

Hello everyone,

The FIDE World Chess Championship between Magnus Carlsen and Viswanathan Anand is scoring possibly the highest viewership and readership numbers for chess in history. Up to Round 8, the viewers numbered 200 million and 500 million.

Television coverage could be estimated most accurately. More than 100 million people are following the match every day in India and Norway on TV, and additional estimated 100 million have been reached through TV news reports around the world.

India 80-100M daily: The India fans are following on DD Sports channel and satellite. Official numbers reported by the TV station itself range between 75 million and 105 million per day, depending on the length of the game. DD Sports has the exclusive TV rights and is reselling the signal and highlights to multiple TV channels, of which little statistics are available.

The total unique users over the 8 rounds so far are hard to measure, but the minimum is the 80 million viewers reported in a single round

Norway 500K – 1M: The TV coverage has over 20% penetration in the country. As the games are played during working hours, the simultaneous viewers number is not as high, but the total number of followers is significant. NRK, cited by Tarjei Svensen, reported that a total of 635 000 watched at least part of their TV coverage with expert IM Torstein Bae from 10:00 CET to 17:00 CET last Wednesday. On average, 180,000 followed the coverage.

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Norway online TV coverage 200K – 400K: Several videos on vgtv.no related to the match, with views from 200 000 to 400 000 and growing.

Other countries 100M+ daily: Norway and India TVs certainly provide 100 million viewers to the World Chess Championship. However, that number can easily be doubled by sports reports in other countries. It is extremely difficult to evaluate the penetration of news coverage provided by the short 1-3 mins reports in TV broadcasters around the world. With or without picture from the playing hall, the match has been detected on TV news in 30+ countries in Europe and 50+ countries around the world according to a Chessdom.com inquiry. The number of countries is certainly higher, especially when adding the large internet video news coverage (for example the CNBC reports here )

Why is the viewership so high?

A combination of factors have contributed to the massive interest in the FIDE World Chess Championship. As a basis, chess is the second most popular sport in the world according to an IOC study in 2005, with interest by 600M+ people (a study confirmed by YouGov http://www.fide.com/component/content/article/1-fide-news/6376-agon-releases-new-chess-player-statistics-from-yougov.html). The fact that a 5 time FIDE World Champion and legend in India is playing against an emerging young talent from the Western World that broke all records before the age of 22 has put a high duality in the encounter – clash of generations youth vs experience, a battle of the worlds East vs West, and a clash of styles traditional vs computer era chess are only a few to mention.

Until round 8 viewership penetration numbers are ranging between 200M and 500M people (100 to 200M contributed by TV, and the rest by mainstream printed media and internet), while depending on the development of the match the penetration can reach 1 billion people. Stay tuned for more reports on mainstream newspapers viewership and internet coverage after R9. (www.chessdom.com)

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Anand - Carlsen World Chess Championship 2013: Press Conference, Opening Ceremony Charm Chess Fans

Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013

Hello everyone,

Chess dance at the opening ceremony. Photo: Official website

The 2013 World Chess Championship between World Champion Viswanathan Anand and Challenger Magnus Carlsen were declared open this evening in Chennai by J Jayalalitha - the politician who heads the government of Tamil Nadu as its Chief Minister. Chennai is the capital city of the State of Tamil Nadu in Southern India. 

The opening ceremony was a cultural extravaganza with held at the Nehru Indoor Stadium with the stands packed. Performances by both Indian and Norwegian cultural groups were part of the opening ceremony. Magnus Carlsen will have White pieces in the first game that begins on Saturday.

Both the opening ceremony and press conference of the World Chess Championship were streamed live via the official website.
Here is the press conference video of the World Chess Champion and his Challenger via the official YouTube channel of the All-India Chess Federation.

 

Asked how well he had 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.

Carlsen did not 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."

Anand said that he was not perturbed by suggestions that he would begin as the underdog in the match.

"I don't know. In general, I get ready to play against certain opponent. That is it. As for whether some thinks I am a favourite or not or the percentage that I enjoy, I do not know what you can do with that information any way."

Carlsen also sought to downplay the view of some experts that he will start as favourite in the match.

"I do not know if everyone considers me a favourite but in general I expect to do well in tournaments. If I manage to do well to my abilities and levels, I can win and that will be my mind set here as well," he said.

Asked about the media hype for the event, Carlsen said, "I am happy that there is so much interest for chess in India. Anand is a star here and I am hoping there will be lot of chess fans and media in general and lot of positive interest around the match."

Meanwhile, FIDE vice-president D V Sundar said some side events are being held during the World Championship match. "Chennai is considered as the Mecca of Indian chess. We are hosting exclusive Women GM tournament, Open Women GM tournament and Under-17 tournaments and others," he said.

FIDE president Kirsan Ilyumzhinov said, "First of all, I thank the chief minister for hosting and sponsoring the event. I thank GM Anand and Carlsen."

The first game of the World Chess Championship will be played on Saturday, November 9. 

 

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Carlsen and Anand will be Close, Say Participants of Women's Chess Tournament (World Chess Championship Parallel Events)

Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013

Hello everyone,

There are several parallel chess events being held in Chennai alongside the Anand versus Carlsen World Chess Championship 2013. One of these events is a chess tournament for women grandmasters. Here is a nice article from The Hindu by PK Ajith Kumar. 

It will be a close contest!

A year ago in Mexico, Sopiko Guramishvili made chess moves that were Carlsenesque. Well, she was just moving the pieces for Magnus Carlsen, who was playing blindfolded against Judit Polgar at the UNAM chess festival.

Sopiko is now looking forward to watching Carlsen take on Viswanathan Anand in the World title match at the Hyatt Regency here. She is the top seed at the International Woman Grandmaster tournament that kicked off at the Nehru Stadium on Wednesday.

“The Anand-Carlsen match is one of the main reasons I am playing this tournament,” she said. “I think it will be a great match. Yes, Carlsen is very strong, but we shouldn’t forget Anand’s huge experience in playing World title matches.” 

Soumya Swaminathan, Mary Ann Gomes, Nisha Mohota, Ljilja Drljevic (Serbia),Keti (Georgia), Sopiko Guramishvili (Georgia), Nino Batsiashvili (Georgia), Karina Ambartsumova (Russia) and Maka (Georgia) before the start of the Women's International Grandmasters tournament. Photo: K. Pichumani

Karina Ambartsumova of Russia too feels it would be a close match. “Contrary to what many experts say, it certainly won’t be easy for Carlsen,” she said. “I think the chances are 50-50.”

Ljilja Drljevic of Serbia is a big Carlsen fan, but she too doesn’t think it will be easy for him.

“It will be a great match and I am happy that I will be able to watch it,” she said, sounding particularly cheerful for someone who has lost her complete luggage while reaching Chennai.

“I have been to India before and the purpose of this visit is purely the World title match.”

Ljilja may be cheering for Carlsen, but there will be no lack of supporters for Anand from among the WGMs. The Indians are here in large numbers, led by reigning National champion Mary Ann Gomes. “I want Anand to win,” she said. “And I know he can.”

Her fellow-Kolkatan Nisha Mohota too is excited about the match. “I am here to witness history,” she said. “I expect amazing chess.”

Soumya Swaminathan, a former World junior champion, said Anand would be even more motivated because he is playing at home.

“We all will be cheering for Anand,” she said. “It is great we are hosting a match of such magnitude.”

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Anand vs Carlsen World Chess Championship Opening Ceremony Nov 7 Programme

Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013

Hello everyone,

Here is the organisers' update on the Anand vs Carlsen World Chess Championship 2013 for November 7 - opening-ceremony day: Fide, India Chess Federation and Hyatt Regency Chennai are conducting final preparation for the FIDE World Chess Championship Match between Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen.

The playing room and spectators area are being arranged and the soundproof glass has been installed. The technical meeting and press conference should take place on Thursday afternoon at Hotel Hyatt Regency, Anna Salai, Chennai. Both the players, World Champion Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand and his challenger World No.1, Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen shall be present on the occasion and hold a press conference. The opening ceremony will take place a few hours later at the Nehru Indoor Stadium. (Left; photo of the chess piece at the entrance)

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Anand - Carlsen World Chess Championship Result: I don't want to guess, says GM Peter-Heine Nielsen

Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013

Hello everyone,

"I don't want to guess about the result," Grandmaster Peter-Heine Nielsen says firmly. "The result" of course refers to the outcome of next month's world championship match between Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen in Chennai. Chess fans have dubbed the clash as the most anticipated chess event of all time, surpassing even the celebrated Fischer vs Spassky encounter, way back in 1972. 

"PH" as he is called was Anand's trainer from the 2007 world championships in Mexico to last year's title defence in Moscow. Nielsen then sensationally joined Carlsen's team.

As befitting the royal game, a gentlemen's agreement means he will sit out this event.

A pawn has not been pushed yet, but can the match live up to the hype? "Depends" he says guardedly. "Chess is like soccer in that sense - a champion's league final can be 0-0, 3-3 or 5-0 even with equal teams. A lot depends on who scores first etc" Nielsen is regarded as a highly original and deep thinker of the modern game. He places the context of the upcoming match in the broad flow of chess history.

Nielsen explains that the Kramnik-Kasparov encounter in 2000 which Kramnik won by grinding down his opponent was where the defence prevailed.

He thematically links this to Anand's celebrated win over Kramnik in 2008. " That was to some extent the response and there attack prevailed." Nielsen says "Kasparov would disagree, but there is some point to it".

So in this battle between sword and shield, where would Chennai match come in? After all, in public perception, Anand has an inspiring, aggressive style preferring to take the fight into the opponent's camp.

Carlsen is known for his patient, incremental approach, trying to improve his position with every move. The Norwegian waits for mistakes from his opponents and pounces immediately on even the slightest error.

Nielsen says, "Both players are so all-round that what they really care about is the quality of their position. Maybe Magnus prefers longer technical games, and Vishy more dynamic positions, but they would both happily take a position in their opponents socalled terrain, if their position is objectively better".

Carlsen has also enlisted Kasparov in his campaign. The Russian great will be at hand to dole out expert advice to the Norwegian, who doesn't have any match experience. Nielsen doesn't think this will be crucial.

"I think the main battlefield by far will be the actual play." Nielsen points out that "comparing with 1972 is difficult." There was a "special political atmosphere" around the cold war clash which made it memorable.

In the end, "the hype was huge, the chess actually nothing spectacular". Anand and Carlsen have played 29 times, with the Indian winning 6 and losing 3; the rest were drawn. Even in tournaments, fans mark out their games as something special, a gladiatorial contest between two of the greatest players. In that context, 12 back-to-back games promises the ultimate chess feast. (The Times of India) 
For all the cool stories surrounding the Anand - Carlsen World Chess Championship 2013 check this site.

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Photo Chess Trivia: Name these Chess Girls from the Women's World Blitz Championship 2010

Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013

Hello everyone,

Here's a nice group photo from the Women's World Blitz Chess Championship 2010.  Can you name all these 'merciless' girls who will not think twice before breaking your heart across the chessboard? (The photo is from the database at www.chesspics.com)

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The DVD from Women’s World Chess Champion and Chess Queen Alexandra Kosteniuk about Blitz Chess. Alexandra gives many tips on how to play better blitz chess and shows 8 of her sensational wins from the 2009 World Blitz Championship, where she beat World #1 Rated Magnus Carlsen, World Champion Vishy Anand, and super Grandmasters Gashimov, Aronian, Morozevich, Grischuk, Judith Polgar, and Naiditsch. All games are fully commented with simultaneous live screens and and 2D boards.
Price: $19.99

World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand Explains Title Win Over Boris Gelfand in Moscow, 2012 (Video)

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013

Hi everyone, 

This is a video with World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand explaining his title win over Boris Gelfand in Moscow, 2012. This was Anand's fifth title - fourth in a row. (Also read:
World Chess Championship 2013 at Hyatt Regency Chennai Nov 6-26)





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Pieter Heine Nielsen won't Work for Magnus Carlsen: Vishwanathan Anand

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013

Hi everyone, 

Right after Magnus Carlsen won the Fide Chess Candidates 2013 in London, we've had plenty of interviews in the Indian media from reigning World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand. Carlsen will play Anand for the world title later this year. Here's a segment from another interesting interview by Anand.

PUNE: Vishy Anand's trusted second Pieter Heine Nielsen won't work with Challenger Magnus Carlsen during the Indian's defence of World chess crown.

"Nielsen will not be in either team," said Anand here on Thursday. "That's the deal. In fact, he told me that he won't be in either team if Magnus is my rival. So I leave it at that. Nielsen is a man of integrity. So I expect that to be the case."

Holland's Nielsen, who had coached Carlsen during the Norwegian's childhood days, worked with him during the recent World Candidates tournament in London. It prompted speculation that Anand will have a huge disadvantage going into the World Championship clash against the 22-year-old because of this 'switch'. But that's not the case.

"First time without Nielsen is a new experience. But then, life itself is a new experience," said 43-year-old Anand. "Even this team (Nielsen, Kasimdzhanov, Ganguly ) had a first time in Bonn."

Chess seconds know sensitive information about players' preparation. Anand's decision to prepare and opt for queen-pawn opening against Vladimir Kramnik was a closelyguarded secret which hampered the Russian's chances big way at Bonn in 2008. Garry Kasparov had roped in 'off venue' second Valdimir Kramnik in his World title match against Anand in 1995, especially for Slav defence. There was speculation that Carlsen worked for Anand during his match against Kramnik; and Kramnik, Kasparov and Carlsen offered informal help to Anand for his match against Veselin Topalov in 2010.

Going further back, Kasparov had sacked his second Evegeny Vladimirov after losing one game during his epic title match against Anatoly Karpov in 1986.

Also Read: 

World Chess Champion Vishy Anand's Second Peter Heine Nielsen to Assist World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen

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World Chess Championsip 2013: Will India Host Anand and his Challenger?

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013

Hi everyone, 

Chances of India hosting the 2013 World Chess Championship (WCC) final featuring Viswanathan Anand brightened once more, after Jitendra Singh, the minister of state for youth affairs and sports, confirmed that the government would do its best to bring the match to the country, according to a report in Indian newspaper Indian Express.

"If an opportunity arises for India to play host to Viswanathan Anand's World Championship match, we will do our best to make it happen," said Singh. The WCC final was one of the topics on the agenda when FIDE vice president Ali Nihat Yazici met Singh earlier this year. Yazici also confirmed the possibility. "The main subjects (of discussion with the minister) as you may guess were CIS (FIDE's Chess in Schools program) in India and the World Championship match. For me it looks like India may host the next World Chess Championship match between WCC GM Anand and his challenger. Let's wait and see," he said.

Yazici also said that the minister had promised an 'open check book' for the CIS scheme. Jitendra Singh said, "We would be happy to take the scheme to the interiors of the country, through schools in towns and villages."

After India's failed bid to host the final between Anand and Israeli Boris Gelfand last year, FIDE had granted India a three-month window during which they could exercise a 'first right' option to host the 2013 final. However the All India Chess Federation had let go of the opportunity. Subsequently, it fell to Agon Limited, an American corporation who have been contracted by the FIDE to develop and popularise the WCC cycles, to determine the hosting rights. India will now have to make a winning bid with Agon, as have SOCAR, Azerbaijan's state oil company, for the ongoing Candidates tournament in London.Though the sponsor could not determine the city which was to host the Candidates tournament, it is widely believed that SOCAR had a say in nominating one of the wildcards for the eight-member field, Teimour Radjabov of Azerbaijan. If India are to host the match in November 2013, it will be the first time that Anand will play the final at home.

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World Chess Champion Vishy Anand's Second Peter Heine Nielsen to Assist World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

This chess news is all over the Internet. World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand's team member GM Peter Heine Nielsen has joined World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen team for the upcoming Candidates Chess Matches in March, 2013.

A Chessdom.com update states that Eirik Gullaksen of BergenSjakk pointed to an article on VG.no which announces that the famous Danish Grandmaster Peter Heine Nielsen will be one of Magnus Carlsen’s seconds in the Candidates Matches in London.

Carlsen’s manager Espen Agdestein says that the two will spend a couple of weeks in the Canary Islands to prepare Carlsen for perhaps the most important tournament so far in his career.

Carlsen and Nielsen have been working together on and off since 2004, but the reigning World Champion Vishy Anand has always been Nielsen’s main employer.

GM Peter Heine Nielsen

Espen Agdestein clarified that if Norwegian wins the Candidates to face Vishy Anand for the title match, they would not be able to have Nielsen in the team: “We could not have Peter. He has worked with Anand for so long, and even if there are no legal problems, it would not be good in moral sense. Peter is therefore not going to be with us on the preparations if we ever have World Championship match” – says Agdestein.

At the same time the status of Ian Nepomniachtchi remains a mystery. For the recent London Chess Classic, the Norwegians insisted that Nepomniachtchi arrives to London because “Magnus got used to preparing with Ian and there is the much needed “chemistry” during the work”.

It was also said that the London Chess Classic should be the final test for Magnus-Ian cooperation before the Candidates Tournament in March. But Agdestein is now reluctant to announce the names of other seconds in the team. He only said that “We want people who are 100 percent motivated and and it is hardly appropriate to compete with the Russian players on the best Russian resources.”

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Anand Believes He Would Win Next Chess World Title As Well

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

 

World chess champion Viswanathan Anand said on Thursday he believed he would win the next world chess title as well. "I hope it's me. After me, me... what can I say... I am not trying not to think of who is coming next. Because, I am not interested," the chess wizard said when asked who would be the next world champion.

Anand said that he does not believe in numbers when asked if he was looking to emulate Russian legend Garry Kasparov's feat of six titles.

"I only think one championship ahead. I don't think about numbers. This time I was only playing against (Boris) Gelfand, I was not thinking about the fifth (title) or something."

Anand said that he opted out of India's team for the chess Olympiad in Turkey, scheduled from August 27-December 10, as he did not enjoy the format.

"I had issues with the format. It's already been several times that I've done this. I want to concentrate on some other tournaments."

Terming his world championship fight against Gelfand the toughest of all, Anand said, "When I played against Gelfand, I already played two matches. In a way, I had exposed my cards. Gelfand is much too good and sophisticated a player to miss that kind of materials. He simply had some open cards from me to prepare himself effectively.

"I expected him to be difficult and that's how it turned out. He was able to prepare himself well, having got a few open cards from me. He conducted himself exceedingly well. We were trying every game without making any harakiri. Last four games were pretty intense."

Terming 21-year-old Norwegian Magnus Carlsen as one of the fine upcoming talents, Anand said: "He is an amazing talent. He is one you see once or twice in a century. We drew a couple of times in our last meeting."

Famous for his rapid mastery, he said: "It is a help. But when you are playing world championship, tension is a much big factor than your form in the rapid chess."

About his team of seconds that included Kolkata's GM Surya Sekhar Ganguly, he said: "We worked extremely hard like every time. But lot of cards were exposed. That's why, it's becoming easier for the opponents. That's the reality we will have to deal with it more and more."

Asked about being together for long, he said: "There are some disadvantages as well. It's the same people, there's limited pool of ideas. But these things, you don't evaluate too much."

On his one-year-old and three months son Akhil, he said, "At some point, I will leave him near a chessboard and see if he's interested or not. I will try to introduce him to lot of things and see which one catches his fancy."

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at
www.chessqueen.com

Anand Disappointed about Bazna Kings Chess Tournament Being Postponed

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand has expressed disappointment at the postponing of the Kings Chess Tournament in Medias, Romania. He said he was looking forward to his first chess tournament after winning the World Chess Championship 2012 against Boris Gelfand last month. The tournament was to be held from June 23 to July 4, before being postponed by the organisers.

"Emotions are still fresh having won the World Championship, a tough one at that. It was most disappointing. I was geared up to playing in it and now I have to cool my heels for the next one. Always you want to get back and play again," said Anand.

The 2012 tournament in Medias was to be the sixth edition (being held in Bazna until last year) and was set to include a strong 6-player double round robin line-up headed by last year's winner and world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen of Norway and world champion Anand.

The other players were Teimour Radjabov, Sergey Karjakin, Vassily Ivanchuk and top Romanian player Liviu Dieter Nisipeanu.

Anand was also on Tuesday made the brand ambassador of TVH, one of the major players in realty market in Southern parts of India.

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

www.chessblog.com

Also see her personal blog at

www.chessqueen.com

Agon Appoints Pentagram to Reposition Chess for the World Stage! (Updated)

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

We are updating our previous post about leading tycoon Andrew Paulson taking a keen interest in making chess the 'hot' sport for the world through multimedia and online projects. (Photo-Andrew Paulson: Showcasing the power of Sport & Technology)


Leading design agency Pentagram has been hired to rebrand the World Chess Championships, after the World Chess Federation (FIDE) accorded the commercial rights to the sport to technology entrepreneur Andrew Paulson.

Read more »

FEB Chess Radio Show - Brand New Fun Episode

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012


Hi everyone,

NEW EPISODE: The Full English Breakfast - #22 Championship Fever

"I'll take a World and US Championship, no fruit, and hold the draws please (Below: Viswanathan Anand, Hikaru Nakamura. Credit: Alexey Yushenkov [courtesy FIDE], and Macauley Peterson)
Buy Chess King training software with $49 discount coupon BREAKFAST and support the show! (www.Chess-King.com) Once you do, e-mail ChessKing@TheFEB.com to enter our prize drawing. 

Web: http://TheFEB.com - Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes or your preferred podcast RSS reader.

iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-full-english-breakfast/id308000944
Facebook: http://Facebook.com/TheFEB
Twitter: http://Twitter.com/TheFEBShow
The Full English Breakfast, check please!

You can hear the show right here at Chess Blog.

Podcast Powered By Podbean

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at
www.chessqueen.com

Top Chess Prep: Anand Explains How he Prepared for Boris

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand, speaking to Indian media on Monday, said, "World championship doesn't start the day you start playing, it starts the moment you know who your opponent is going to be."

Anand said, "This year I brought a change to my game. Instead of opening with one white weapon, which I usually do, I started off with two white weapons."

"I knew that my decision to open with one white weapon was no longer a surprise," he added.

Praising Boris Gelfand, Anand said that, "He is a very experienced player. He was very complicated and had some completely new stuffs."

He said Borris Gelfand is someone who had good understanding of the game. "He is someone who embodies the best traditions of Soviet Union chess. I knew he would come up with some of the best preparation and he did," he said.

Anand further said that the key of playing is how much of your preparation you get into, which determines the game.

In case you are wondering how you could prepare to take on the world chess champion, 'speak' to the Chess King and Houdini!

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at
www.chessqueen.com

World Chess Champion - India Twitter Trend: Is Indian Model Going to Strip for Anand Victory?

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

I'm a good
kid - I don't read tweets! 

The Indian subcontinent takes cricket love to pretty manic heights and chess figures much less in the media unless, of course, if the news is about World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand. 

Indian model Poonam Pandey was the talk of Indian media and twitter trends two days back for 'stripping' on twitter to celebrate the victory of Kolkata Knight Riders - a team owned by India movie superstar Shah Rukh Khan - in the Indian cricket league tournament just two days back.

The Indian twiterati is having fun this Wednesday after Vishy Anand won the 2012 world chess championship by beating Boris Gelfand.

Here are some popular tweets. With no ill-will intended, we celebrate the creativity of chess fans from India - particularly that Anand is seen with such good will that fans actually expect the model to 'cover up' for him!:

Angry Bombay Girl ‏@shadymumbai
Now that Poonam Pandey has removed all her clothes for Cricket ... For Vishwanathan Anand .. she might consider Wearing some for a Change

doctor at large ‏@doctoratlarge
Poonam Pandey puts on a saree to celebrate Anand's win

greatbong ‏@greatbongPoonam Pandey will take off her clothes for Anand also? Toplessalov ?

rajneesh kapoor ‏@MrMrRajneesh
Now that Viswannathan Anand has won the World Championship, Poonam Pandey must show all the Mating Positions.

Faking News ‏@fakingnews
I just hope Poonam Pandey doesn't post a pic to 'celebrate' Viswanathan Anand winning World Chess Championship.

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at
www.chessqueen.com