God is the grandmaster, says Anand

Prayer and faith, life and chess — nothing unfolds in black and white in the many-shaded universe of Vishwanathan Anand, the top player in the world’s most cerebral game.

Religion is a deeply personal issue for me, which is why I disdain its showy side. I believe that in matters of religion and spirituality, every individual has to discover his or her level of comfort and intimacy.

I avoid the rituals and ceremonies associated with religion. That does not mean I stay completely remote; when I am in India I make it a point to visit a temple. I revel in the tranquillity it offers and the beauty it symbolises.

Living on belief, and more

I see prayer as an article of faith. When I pray I try to concentrate on the prayer itself, its cadences, its ebb and flow. I try to channel my energies towards it. Conviction and belief —  that’s the essence of prayer.

There are times, however, when I find myself in a completely lost position in a game and I think, “Oh God, how did I get here?” Is that a prayer?

Just before a game, I try to keep a clear mind so that I can focus better. I’m the kind of person who plays fast and relies a lot on intuition, so being at peace with myself is vital. Saying my daily prayers helps me achieve this heightened state of mind.

We need hope, humility

At times, when I look at the way life unfolds, I can’t help but think that God is the best chess player there ever has been, the greatest of grandmasters. We human beings are merely pawns, and we yearn to be kings! Hope and humility — that’s what we need in abundance, that’s what makes the difference, not an  unbridled love of all things material and transitory.

Chess is a complex sport, forever evolving, forever morphing, and always humbling. I should know; bishops and knights, kings, queens and pawns have always been a part of my world. I started playing the game when I was six, and my passion has not dimmed a bit; as a matter of fact, it continues to grow.

Chess stimulates my curiosity and my need to keep learning. We deal with three million games and megabytes of information; that’s the currency of an elite chess player. Each game is an experience in relearning and reinventing. It is maths, art and science all rolled into one blockbuster experience. 

The ingredients of success

In chess, as in life, knowledge, hard work and a bit of luck are the critical for success. When I started learning the ropes, the intricacies of the game, my chief source of knowledge came from books. This could take weeks, sometimes even months to filter through.

Knowledge, and access to it, was once the key to doing well in the game. Today, though, knowledge is downloadable in real time, so everyone has access to the same bits — and bytes — of information.

Hard work also counts, at least in my book. Chess can be a gruelling and challenging game; it’s easy to get crushed under the pressure it exerts. The trick is to play it so that it does not weigh too heavily on you. Luck plays a part, for sure, but I’d like to think it favours those who give it their best shot.

Cut from a different cloth

I see myself as a part of an older, and rather different, generation of chess players. I may look calm and sober when I’m playing, but that’s a façade. On the inside I can hear my heart pounding. Everyone brings a particular characteristic to the way they play. I bring my calmness to the table.

You can’t throw a tantrum or backslap a teammate during a game of chess, which really is warfare waged in solitude. In many ways, the game prepares you for the challenges that life hurls in your direction.