Sometimes, if you are nervous, it could actually turn out to be a manifestation of your exhaustion. The point is that any setback is bad, but if you see it from a perspective, you’ll recover. – Viswanathan Anand
I was reasonably interested in mathematics in school. Typically what happens is… when you start playing chess, it takes up a lot of your attention. But about 10 years ago, I found that the Internet is very good to start learning about a lot of subjects. – Viswanathan Anand
You bring to chess facets of your personality and what you are. I have interests other than chess, like music and world and current affairs. I also have many friends around the world with whom I like to keep in touch. – Viswanathan Anand
My practice schedule is not constant and changes a lot and depends on my moods also. – Viswanathan Anand
In chess, knowledge is a very transient thing. It changes so fast that even a single mouse-slip sometimes changes the evaluation. – Viswanathan Anand
Before a game, I avoid having a heavy meal so that I don’t feel sleepy at the board. You eat to be healthy, and that generally takes care of everything. Also, you can’t be too finicky, since at tournaments you tend to eat at restaurants here and there. But, as long as you’re eating sensibly, it’s all good. – Viswanathan Anand
Chess as a sport requires a lot of mental stamina, and this is what that makes it different from a physical sport. Chess players have a unique ability of taking in a lot of information and remembering relevant bits. So, memory and mental stamina are the key attributes. – Viswanathan Anand
Professional players work almost every day, for hours on end, and the emphasis is on the word ‘work.’ It can be with a partner or it can be alone, but professional chess is always a pursuit of something new and surprising. – Viswanathan Anand
I appreciate the support and anyone who takes up a position on my behalf. Especially in matches, this feeling that there are people behind you, gives me a lot of strength. – Viswanathan Anand
I don’t bench press, but I use machines to work 10-12 muscle groups. Biceps, triceps, a few things for the back, calves, shoulders and so on – and then I’ll go on the running machine, cross-trainer or mountain climber. – Viswanathan Anand
We want more women players to take up chess. There are few participants at the national level and hope it will grow. – Viswanathan Anand
Each match I approach like a new one. The work is so immense that you don’t have time to sit and ponder. – Viswanathan Anand
There is technology where you can watch the match live online and also on TV. If people understood the game, I’m sure we would have a lot of chess fans by now. – Viswanathan Anand
I love travelling and going on wildlife safaris. I have an interest in astronomy. I like reading on current affairs, business and science. I love doing nothing if I can help it. – Viswanathan Anand
I like to keep myself physically and mentally fit before any important match. I usually take a short nap just before the game and do not practice immediately before the tournament. – Viswanathan Anand
India has lot of talent. What I am happy with is that the talent keeps on coming. Certainly it could be nice, though I am not terribly keen on seeing my successor yet. – Viswanathan Anand
It’s important, according to me, to train in small doses so as to not lose the joy of playing chess. I personally think too many coaching and training classes may take away a child’s interest in the game itself. The essential thing to do is practise often and, in case of a doubt, to consult a trainer. – Viswanathan Anand
In Gujarat, we had the world record of largest number of chess games in a single venue – 20,500 – and in Tamil Nadu, I have been emphasizing on the positives of chess to the authorities. – Viswanathan Anand
I think an important lesson from the game is that once you have made a move, you cannot take it back. You really have to measure your decisions. You think a lot. You evaluate your choices very carefully. There’s never any guarantee about what’s going to follow once you have made a decision. – Viswanathan Anand
Preparedness for a game that usually lasts four-five hours requires good physical condition and also steady nerves. – Viswanathan Anand
When there’s an important tournament going on, I try and stay in a bubble. It’s easy that way because then you don’t have to worry about anything else. – Viswanathan Anand
I don’t know how many calories an average chess player burns per game, but it often exceeds that of a player in ball games. It is not only the chess as such: You need to be fit and undergo complicated preparation. – Viswanathan Anand
There are two aspects to being competitive; one is to do with sports, and the other is about technical skills. Being able to recollect the moves and apply them when necessary is a critical aspect. – Viswanathan Anand
My job is to play chess, the game that I love. I achieve what I can in chess. That is what I focus on. Basically, I am always focused on playing the game, and this is important to me. – Viswanathan Anand
There are some aspects of work you need to keep working on and no matter what environment you are in. Continuous learning is very important. It’s what I call ‘competitive tension’, which is about having a competition around. – Viswanathan Anand
Sometimes an opponent stops breathing, and you realise something drastic has happened and they are trying not to let on. Or they go quiet, or they get fidgety. After a while you pick these things up and become more alert to them. – Viswanathan Anand
When you play with the best in the world, it is important that you not lose focus. You must be fully focused. Even a minor error could result in a massive defeat. – Viswanathan Anand
