My first expertise for the World Chess Championship was after I began working with (Viswanathan) Anand earlier than the match in opposition to (Vladimir) Kramnik in 2008. Earlier I had completely no thought about what sort of preparation is required. I bear in mind after I first began working, our day used to begin round 11 within the morning and finish at 1 within the night time. To start with I used to be fully bowled over. But progressively I obtained used to the routine.
In chess, the upper you go up the ladder, the extra you deal with the opening. Too a lot variation in openings shouldn’t be the norm at decrease ranges, however turns into inevitable at increased ranges. Different groups play completely different environments for the World Championships. Anand was by no means smug, he by no means mentioned ‘I’ve to work in three extra days’… Our work surroundings was very mild. Most of the time we used to play music too.
Each participant has his personal group and a sure work ethic. For Magnus (Carlson), it is rather essential to take day without work from chess and play one other recreation. Even throughout a event, he performs soccer or basketball exterior of chess. It is a should for his group. Anand, then again, prefers to do mild health club periods.
I do not know a lot about how (Ian) Nepomniachtchi (nicknamed Napo by the Americans) prepares for tournaments just like the World Championships. But from what I do know, he is not a health freak like Magnus.
Even after the match begins, the seconds grow to be crucial, as a result of with the position comes quite a lot of accountability. It is about working and analyzing a transfer for a participant that may decide the end result of the world championship. The rival camp is doing the identical factor, so you will have to concentrate on that as effectively. And it is not nearly suggesting a trick, as a result of the psychological features additionally grow to be crucial.
From that viewpoint, the seconds must play the position of a motivator as effectively. Like, typically our job was to remind Anand that ‘You are Anand’. Pressure can do every kind of issues for you. If you lose a recreation, your confidence could drop a bit. This sort of relationship develops slowly. Like if I work with Anand as we speak, I will not hesitate to let him know if I believe one thing must be mounted. The relationship that you just develop over the 15 years of working collectively. But, if I work with Magnus or Napo’s group now, I’ll be just a little hesitant.
The work you do within the lead-up, within the preparation half, you principally work on completely different openings and resolve the technique of the match. You assign completely different positions to the participant, you play coaching video games with him. You work on the end-game. For us this course of began eight months earlier than the World Championships. We took awkward breaks, nevertheless it was very difficult. Later, we determined it was not a really wholesome course of, particularly for lengthy period coaching. For the final one month (earlier than the match) or a fortnight it was completely superb. So for the (Veselin) Topalov match, we used to complete round 10 pm.
Technical play is not the strongest side of Napo and I’m speaking about absolute elite ranges right here. His foremost strengths are his creativeness, technique and methods. He’s very slippery, evidenced by his successful file completely from dropping positions. He enjoys taking dangers. Magnus’ recreation, then again, is extra of a method. He is surprisingly strong. So there might be an enormous conflict of Styles on this World Championship. At the tip of the day, Magnus remains to be very sturdy, a transparent favourite. But there’s a feeling that if the match goes deep, piles up and the rating stays even, the possibilities of a napo will improve.
Look, each participant is aware of that no matter his preparation and the way cautious he’s, he can face a wholly new state of affairs on the board in actual time. Permutations and mixtures are so excessive you’ll be able to’t cowl all the pieces. Part of a participant’s preparation focuses on understanding the sort/sample of a brand new state of affairs that will come up. Mind, Napo is a participant who has a plus rating on Magnus. At the U-10 or U-12 stage, Nepo defeated Magnus twice within the classical format. He later doubled it within the Elite Tournament. So there was a time when the 2 had a face-off within the classical format with a 4-0 attract favor of Napo. Recently, Magnus gained his first match in opposition to Napo. So in the meanwhile Napo is main 4-1. But I do not assume it can give him a psychological edge on the summit. Magnus will cowl it along with his extra match expertise and likewise, the higher participant at all times begins out because the favorite.
I believe what units Magnus aside from the remainder is that he by no means performs a recreation of rush. His best power shouldn’t be his preparation. He tries to humiliate his opponents, the extra strikes you play in a recreation, the higher his probabilities. To me, he’s the best end-game participant within the historical past of chess. Their power can also be an element right here. It principally comes from his participation in different sports activities like soccer. I’ve by no means seen Magnus end a recreation too early, doing higher than his opponent at the beginning. Players like (Gary) Kasparov, Anand and (Levon) Aronian labored laborious of their preparations for the opening. But Magnus’ entire strategy is like he would not wish to beat his opponent within the opening. Rather he likes to take a place rapidly to place his opponent beneath strain. He prefers to burn slowly.
I’ve performed in opposition to each Magnus and Napo. Against Napo, I’ve performed two matches within the classical format and a few fast and blitz. Against Magnus, I’ve performed one fast and two classical. When I performed in opposition to Napo, he tried to beat me within the opening utilizing completely different methods. Whereas Magnus at all times lets the sport progress after taking a positive place.
Against Napo, I used to be fully tricked into the European Championships. Then, on the earth group occasion, I had a state of affairs the place I used to be trying to win. But he countered it by enjoying superfast and adopting extra methods. I had a one-piece benefit over him in that recreation and I used to be +2 within the laptop analysis; Absolutely successful place. Conversely, his strikes weren’t the very best for those who go to the e-book/laptop, however his strikes had been the very best by way of psychology. He knew he was enjoying in opposition to a human and his entire strategy was to create a whole mess on the board. This led to loopy issues; Each of his strikes offers his opponent a distinct choice. The recreation led to a draw and I confronted related outcomes in opposition to him in World Rapid and World Blitz. It may be very troublesome to win from a win-win state of affairs in opposition to him. On the opposite hand, when he finds a greater place on the board, he sweeps it.
If you ask me what’s the easiest way to fight Nepo; Too many occasions he’d bluff, his physique language betraying the true state of the sport… It’s essential to not take the bait and provides him a counter.
As far as Magnus is anxious, it’s nearly inconceivable to detect any weak point. But for those who can break his tempo, for those who can place him on the board by making strikes that defy logic – that is precisely Napo’s power – you then stand an opportunity.
The recreation evolves and the fantastic thing about greatness is that it stays forward of its time. It was true for (Bobby) Fischer, Kasparov, Anand and each legend of the sport. Magnus is a genius, effectively forward of his time.
(Grandmaster Surya Shekhar Ganguly was one in every of Viswanathan Anand’s seconds and helped him win the World Championship match in opposition to Vladimir Kramnik and Veselin Topalov. He spoke to Shamik Chakraborty.)
World Chess Championship: when, when and guidelines
26 November to 14 December
15 December is reserved for tie-break
Defending Champion: Magnus Carlsen (Elo Rating, 2855)
Challenger: Ian Nepomniachchi (Elo Rating, 2782)
Start Time: Each recreation begins at 4.30 PM native time, 6 PM IST
Number of Games: 14; When a participant reaches 7.5 factors, he wins.
Tie-break: If the factors are tied after 14 video games, 4 tie-break video games might be performed in a fast format, with 25 minutes for every participant. If it’s nonetheless stage, two blitz video games might be performed.
Prize cash: Euro 2 million, 60% of it to the winner and 40% to the runner-up.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
