Why did Viswanathan Anand’s rivals help him against Topalov?

World champion Viswanathan Anand keeping his title for the fourth time has pushed Indian chess into celebration mode once again. Besides retaining the same team of seconds or trainers, Anand has revealed that he had helpful sessions with three key chess personalities — Garry Kasparov, widely considered the greatest player of all time, former world champion Vladimir Kramnik (both Russians), and the present world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen of Norway.

Kasparov’s decision to offer help to Anand has been a surprise to many. They have been rivals for long before and since the World Championship match that took place at New York in Sep-Oct 1995. Perhaps Kasparov wanted to be associated with a winner and chose Anand. How critical a factor his help was will be known to Anand. Another fact is that Kasparov trains Carlsen.
As for Kramnik’s decision to pitch in, there are several factors. Kramnik shares a special relationship with Anand. When the World Chess Council was formed by Linares organiser Luis Rentero, Kramnik even visited Anand at his Madrid home in 1998 to play a match with him, with the winner to play Kasparov.

Also, during Kramnik’s controversial match against Topalov in Elista in 2006, there was plenty of hostility between the players and their groups. The match, won eventually by Kramnik, was played in such bad spirit — with Topalov casting aspersions on Kramnik’s frequent toilet breaks — that after it ended, a group of players, including Anand, were not on talking terms with Topalov. A key fact was that a majority of the players supported Kramnik, who is thought to be a likeable person and on the right side in that controversy. However, time played the healer and today the gentlemanly Anand and Topalov share a good relationship.
Though Anand defeated Kramnik in Bonn 2008, the players are on excellent terms. The dual factor of love for Anand and dislike for Topalov could have propelled Kramnik to help the Chennai-born 40-year-old. Anand’s white side repertoire in the Sofia match was based on Kramnik’s successful play from Elista and the Indian was able to step into the Russian’s shoes without any difficulty.

As for Magnus Carlsen, his working with Anand as a sparring partner is not new. They did that before the Bonn and Mexico World Championship matches of 2008 and 2007. What is significant is that both players have a common trainer in Nielsen. The choice of world No.1 Carlsen as a sparring partner was a certain plus point in Anand’s preparation. It is likely, however, that they may have just worked together for the last time, as Carlsen is tipped to be a future challenger to Anand. If that happens, Nielsen will be forced to choose.

Though sending revealing analysis to Kasparov involved a certain amount of ‘trust’, Kramnik was probably the ‘best influence’ for Anand. But having Carlsen around for much longer could be dangerous for Anand. Kasparov included Kramnik as a trainer in his 1995 match against Anand. He trusted Kramnik with his analysis and in his next championship match in 2000 in London, he was beaten by Kramnik.

Having elite stars in the team or as consultants nevertheless offers great publicity and creates confusion in the enemy camp, though you have to live with factors like trust. In chess, preparation holds the key and in this area, Anand excelled in his match against Topalov. The Bulgarian, on the other hand, is said to have invested heavily in high speed computers to churn out for him the novelty lines in the match.

Though Anand certainly benefited from the ‘generosity’ of the three top players, it is his amazing on-board ability that finally felled Topalov in that all important twelfth game.