‘Kramnik and I share an awkward relationship’

Viswanathan Anand looks as fit a player as any one playing in the IPL. For a cerebral champion, that’s a bit of a surprise. The world champion spoke to Vijay Tagore on that issue and many more. Excerpts:

Your looking as fit as any cricketer.
For about 10 years, I have made it a habit to spend time in the gym. I do exercises almost daily except when I’m travelling. I believe, in chess age plays a big factor and also the ability to calculate correctly. Without calculations you cannot win a game. You play a series of good moves and somewhere in between you play a not- so-good move and you may end up losing the game.

Like in any sport, chess is getting younger. Where do you see yourself in that context as you are 40?
Yes, chess is getting younger but I don’t think I’m too old to compete with the present bunch. I will be happy if I will am able to play the way Victor Korchnoi played at the age of 60. But I’m not looking that far. I don’t see any reason why I can’t compete with any youngster. I just have to keep a balance in the number of tournaments I play. But I will not be complacent. At the moment I’m the number one but I will not sit over it.

You have an important match coming this year against Vladimir Kramnik. How do you rate your chances?
I will try my best. I wish it was not this year after the tournament in Mexico last year.
You are known to be a good tournament player and Kramnik is a good match player. It will be a match-play in the Unification match. So is that advantage Kramnik?
That is a fact. Vladimir is a good match player. But I cannot brood over it and get worried about it. You should get on to the chair and get on with the business. I will give my best shot. Too much analysis will not take you anywhere.

What kind of relationship do you share with Kramnik after what he said in Mexico?
We are not great friends. We share a very awkward relationship but I can assure you that there will not be a ‘toiletgate’.

You think privilege of rematch for a champion should be done away with?
I don’t know. That is the rule so we all have to abide by it.

Any plans to come back to India and start an academy?
I’m already running an academy - Mind Champions Academy. At the moment it is difficult to take on anything else. Mind Champions Academy is very important. Essentially, we have a much bigger impact that what people realise. Hundreds of thousand of children are involved.

In those hundreds of thousands of children, is there another Vishy Anand lurking some where?
Yes there are. I’ve seen a few kids who have shown a lot of spark. But we’ll have to wait and see.