CALCUTTA (India): India’s chess Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand said that he is getting used to the seniority tag after the sudden retirement of Vladimir Kramnik.
“I’m getting used to it (laughs). Especially, since Kramnik decided to retire suddenly. That won’t help him either because I’m slightly older than him but not as much these guys,” Anand told Khelupdates here on the sidelines of the launch Second Tata Steel Chess India Rapid & Blitz.
The Indian star along with world champion and top-ranked Magnus Carlsen will be among the top names in Grand Chess Tour (GCT)that starts at the iconic National Library on Friday.
Anand recorded a memorable victory in the blitz last year while GM Hikaru Nakamura won the rapid title.
“In 1986, I played here for the first time in a Tata Steel tournament. I enjoyed last year’s Tour very much, and I’m looking forward to this year. It’ll be a nice to have a good finish. Of course, I’m one of the participants to be looking for the first four,” added Anand, who strode into the limelight as a junior world champion in 1987.
It’s a mere coincidence that on the day when the national cricket team play their first-ever Pink Ball D/N Test at the Eden Gardens, the country will hosting $1.75 million GCT, the first of its kind in Asia.
Tournament structure
For starters, this is the last stop of the seven-leg Tour before the four-player London GCT Finals scheduled during the London Chess Classic next month.
The Tour participants, including 12 full Tour players, are chosen on the basis of previous year’s standings and world rankings.
Defending champion Nakamura, World Random Fischer champion Wesley So, Anish Giri and Ian Nepomniachtchi, fifth and sixth in classical world rankings, are the other overseas players.
Wild cards P Harikrishna and Vidit Gujrathi complete the line-up while Ding Liren and Levon Aronian are the other players.
Anand need a top finish
The Indian superstar, sixth in Tour rankings, needed to finish sixth or higher here to move past Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Sergey Karjakin, presently placed third and fifth.
The duo has already figured in five events.
Asked if playing Carlsen in India will be something special for the chess lovers, India’s first Grandmaster said, “Not particularly, it will be a difficult game. It’s one among the many in this tournament. I guess, once the game comes I will prepare for it.”
Earlier, Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) President Sourav Ganguly joined Anand and Carlsen during the draw of lots.
Anand plays Liren, So and Nepomniachtchi on Friday.
