world chess championship

Garry Kasparov: What he said, really meant and definitely didn’t

Garry Kasparov questions Anand’s predatory instincts.

English: Viswanathan Anand, world chess champion (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

What he said:

Anand the old tiger cannot chase down his prey so easily these days, but if you put your head in his mouth his teeth are still quite sharp!

— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) November 12, 2014

Lëtzebuergesch: De Garri Kasparow géint de Computerprogramm Deep Junior am Januar 2003. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

13th World Chess Champion and Chairman of the Human Rights Foundation Garry Kasparov believes that World Championship contender and former champion Viswanathan Anand is not the same opponent he defeated years ago to retain his crown.

What he really meant:

“Anand is not the Lightning Kid anymore. Not when it comes to playing Magnus Carlsen. He still has bite but has to play the waiting game, hoping his opponent takes the bait and is ensnared.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Tiger Tiger burning bright,
On  the chess boards of Sochi:
What immortal hand or eye,
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

(With apologies to William Blake).”

Teymur Rajabov: What he said, really meant and definitely didn’t

Русский: Теймур Раджабов (Азербайджан) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Teymur Rajabov clocks in for Magnus Carlsen versus Viswanathan Anand.

What he said:

Carlsen's time is ticking slowly for Indian fans,and extremely fast for fans of Carlsen. #CarlsenAnand

— Teimour Radjabov (@rajachess) November 11, 2014

Azerbaijani chess Grandmaster Teymur Rajabov makes it obvious that he expects partisanship on the lines of nationality in the  play-off in Sochi between current world champion Magnus Carlsen and title contender Viswanathan Anand. The former prodigy was commenting on the third game in the series that Anand won to level scores 1.5—1.5.

What Rajabov really meant:

“Time is relative. Indian fans are in a hurry to see their champion reinstated; the Norwegians (and Carlsen’s supporters) are none-too-keen. The winner always seems to have all the time in the world to make his moves; the loser none.”

English: Viswanathan Anand, world chess champion (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

What he definitely didn’t:

“I wonder if Carlsen’s clock is broken. Could we have cuckoo clocks instead for the players?”

Top Of The World!

Image via Wikipedia

Though India was expectedly knocked out of the World T20 tourney late yesterday evening, Indian sports fans had much to cheer about with Viswanathan Anand retaining his world chess championship title by defeating Veselin Topalov in the 12th and final game of the match series  with black pieces.

Long Journey For Anand

It has been a long journey for Anand from child prodigy to being the best chess player in the world. This was his 4th world title with victories in all 3 formats of the world championships: 2000 (knock out), 2007 (double round robin tournament), and 2008 & 2010 (match play).

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