 | « Back to article | Print this article |
'He takes long walks at night and before going to bed he watches Yes Minister and Fawlty Towers...'
There's only a day to go for the World Chess Championship, a re-match between five-time World champion Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen, in Sochi, Russia.
In the last World Championship, in Chennai, Carlsen unseated Anand, then the defending World champion.
The way the Indian legend has played this year, there's a very good chance of him defeating the world No 1 Norwegian and reclaiming the crown.
In an exclusive e-mail interview with Shobha Warrier/Rediff.com, Aruna Anand, Anand's wife and manager, discusses his preparation ahead of one of the biggest matches of his career.
Has Anand been practising after arriving in Sochi?
Of course, he has been training for the last six months.
What is his day like now?
He tries to keep a routine before the match. So, it is breakfast, work, light lunch, work and walks.
He takes long walks at night and before going to bed he watches Yes Minister and Fawlty Towers, and also wildlife documentaries. He also tells me to remind him the next morning of the Bishop!
It was reported that he has a lot of chess players as friends in Russia.
Anand has many friends in Russia and also many fans. So we hope to see many of them as the championship unfolds.
Compared to how he felt in Chennai last year, is he more relaxed this time?
He definitely has every reason to be proud and positive. He has shown steely ambition and nerves in a very emphatic comeback.
What do Vishy and his team of seconds discuss now, a day before the championship?
A lot of the conversation revolves around the preparation.
What will he do tonight, the night before the match?
There is the opening ceremony, and then you come back and get ready for the game.
How relaxed is he?
You can't completely relax before a championship.
He is his normal, happy self.