If you have a strong opponent, a competition is stimulating. I am generally most open to ideas when I have had a bad result. In chess, too, players specialise. This specialty then becomes an entry barrier. Viswanathan Anand badbarrierchess share on social
There is always the risk of being over-confident when you are preparing to face a weaker player. Viswanathan Anand confidentfaceplayer Change image and share on social
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 agoattentionchess share on social
In chess, knowledge is a very transient thing. It changes so fast that even a single mouse-slip sometimes changes the evaluation. Viswanathan Anand chessevaluationfast Change image and share on social
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 comehappyindia Change image and share on social
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 averageballburn share on social
I personally prefer long-distance walking, but we are talking about pre-tournament preparation. During a tournament I make do with walking, mainly to concentrate before a game. Viswanathan Anand concentratedistancegame Change image and share on social
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 aspectcallcompetition share on social
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 chessdayemphasis share on social
I have a love for astronomy; Aruna, my wife, and I love travelling, so whenever we get an opportunity, we set off to explore places that have tickled our interest. We are also wildlife enthusiasts. Viswanathan Anand arunaastronomyenthusiast Change image and share on social
