‘It will be difficult for Vishy, more difficult for Kramnik’

Elizbar Ubilava, who spent 10 years with Anand as a Second, says the unification match will be between Russian’s opening and Indian’s middle game

MUMBAI: Elizbar Ubilava was believed to be the man responsible for Viswanathan Anand’s transformation from a rookie to a world champion.

The Georgian-born Spanish Grandmaster was Anand’s second for nearly 10 years. During the period, the Indian maestro won the world championship, the world cup and rose to World No 1 position. Ubilava is now the coach of Indian women’s team. DNA caught up with him at the GM tournament in the city. Excerpts:

How do you analyse Anand as a person, player and a professional?
He is well organised and disciplined. Mainly, he makes himself. He is a world champion and that speaks for itself. His greatness is his ability to maintain the highest standard for a long time. He is an absolutely exceptional talent.

The chess players world over respect him. He never looks for any artificial advantage world champions like Karpov tried to obtain at different times. He wants to achieve across the board. He is also a great human being. I was lucky for my association with him. My contribution to his growth, though, is modest.

How did it all start?
It started in Spain through some common friends. We still stay in the same city in Spain, which is very close to Madrid. Vishy invited me once in 1994.

We played some rapid games. Then he asked me to join him for the world championship cycle in Hyderabad against Gata Kamsky. We worked for about 10 days before coming to Hyderabad. That was the starting point.

It was not the best start right? Vishy lost to Kamsky 3.5-1.5.
That’s right. Anand should have won all those five games. But he made errors here and there and then went on to lose it. It was a big setback for the Indian fans but I thought he had a home disadvantage.

A lot of people would interrupt his preparation, to convey their best wishes. It was not an ideal situation for him. However, our association continued. I took a break in 2001. The last tournament was 2005 Linares.

How do look back at the time you spent with Vishy? Any highpoints that you recall?
We had fantastic time together travelling all over the world. It is difficult to nominate one or two watershed moments. Probably, the 2000 world championship was a milestone. Then the 2001 World Cup.

In 1997, he practically won the world championship. It was unjust of Fide to ask Anand to play Karpov after he came though knock-out system in the Netherlands. Two days after winning the knock-out tournament, he had to play Karpov. In the championship match, he made it 3-3 before losing in the additional game.

It was completely unjust. Karpov was very fresh and Vishy was totally exhausted. He was the best player in the Fide cycle. He proved that by ripping apart Karpov some months later 5.5-.5. But what I would like to stress is that we always tried to do different and new things. In that sense, it was a successful collaboration.

What are the areas you helped him develop?
Mainly opening. It is a huge, huge area. Today Vishy’s opening range is unbelievable. When we started, his opening repertoire was not as vast. There is a marked improvement in his middle and end games too. He is now a complete player. Psychologically he is very strong. He handles success and failure perfectly.

Ok, how do you rate Vishy of 1994 and 2008?
Now, he is a 2800 player, the best player in the world. What else one wants? I’m sure he will stay there for some more years. He stabilised himself as the highest level player. When we started, he was 2700 player.

One strong point that stands him out from the rest?
His fast reflections. And his middle game skills. He is the best here.

Any weakness you came across?
Some times, he misses a few strategic lines and tactical possibilities. But, that is human. It can happen to anyone.

Now the obvious question. He will be playing Kramnik this year. How do you rate his chances?
It will be tremendously tough. For both. My reading of it is Vishy will win. But it will not be an easy. It will be difficult for Vishy. And it will be more difficult for Kramnik. I know  Kramnik will come with the best possible preparation.

His openings will be very difficult to break. Openings of Kasparov and Kramnik are very decisive and deep. Psychologically, Kramnik is very strong. In the end game, he is stronger. I feel Vishy should be able to tackle that. It will be in a way Kramnik’s opening versus Vishy’s middle game.

Will you work with him again?
I had a fantastic time with him. But everything must come to an end. He needed different and fresh ideas and I needed different people to work with so that we don’t stagnate. I’m happy it happened.

Any particular reason why it happened?
No. It happened because it must happen. 

One advice you want to give to him for the world championship?
He should have the right people around him.

Do you think he has the right people around him?
I think so. He has the ability to find the right people. He is doing well now. In fact, he is doing better now than before. Probably, it stimulated him. Our separation had a positive influence on him.

Finally, do you think Vishy was unlucky to have played in Kasparov’s era? In another generation, he would have would have had more world titles.
I don’t think so. What would have happened if Fischer had played Karpov? We’ll never know. Vishy needed Kasparov’s greatness to be recognised as a great player. Anand is one of the three best players I’ve seen (Kasparov and Magnus Carlson are the other two). Today Vishy is a world champion, world No. 1 and a 2800 player. What else would he want? History will give Vishy an honourable place.