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It has been a horrible year for me, admits Vishy Anand

Five-time World chess champion Viswanathan Anand described the year, which saw him surrender the World crown to Norwegian Magnus Carlsen, as a "horrible" one, but said he will stay positive without getting bogged down thinking about the debacle.

"It has been a horrible year for me. It looks like the toughest of my career.

"I mean the World Championship had the most impact; if I had won it there then it would have been a brilliant year," Anand said on the sidelines of the NIIT programme in Delhi.

"I was analysing the year before the World Championship. At some point I remember instances where I went wrong, but I think I have to stay positive and try to do well next year," said the undisputed king of chess from 2007 to 2013 who lost to Carlsen in the World Championship match in Chennai last month.

'There is no need of over-analysis'

Anand does not want to over-analyse or set any target right now> He insists his priority is getting back to the best frame of mind and playing some good chess. 

"There is no need of over-analysis. Sometimes it is not healthy to set targets.

"I would rather feel free playing some good tournaments now and once my chess picks up, the results will follow. So, instead of obsessing about different targets, right now I want to get back in the best frame of mind," he said.

'There is a good chance I will play in Ukraine'

Asked about the next season, he replied: "I m starting the year with Zurich, which is on January 29th; I will take a decision on the Candidates tournament soon in March; that is the current schedule.

"There is a good chance I will play in Ukraine." 

The Candidates tournament acts as a qualification event for the World Championship. The winner of the tournament will get a crack at reigning champion Carlsen next November.