More Indians breaking into top: Anand

Five-time world champ, who will be in action for Ganges Grandmasters in Global Chess League, opens up about Gukesh vs Liren final, India's Olympiad chances & what he misses most. Swaroop Swaminathan took notes...

- E. Swaroop Swaminathant

IN the first week of October, Viswanathan Anand will swap his suits for playing gear as he takes part for Ganges Grandmasters in the second edition of the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League.

Over the last few years, the five-time world champion has slowly winded down his playing activities and has started to play more of an administerial role (he's the deputy president of FIDE, the world governing body).

In an interaction with this daily, the 54-year-old speaks on why the 2024 edition of the GCL, why he wasn't tempted to play in the Olympiad, the Indian teams' chances at Budapest and the battle between D Gukesh and Ding Liren. Excerpts:

On the second edition of the Global Chess League

Teams have been a reshuffled a bit and I'm very excited. Just looking forward, trying to get ready. It was pleasant experience to play (in it) last year. There was a new vibe, from the presentation of the players to the entry and the way the games were staged. Everything was dynamic and interesting from a players' point of view and from a spectators point of view. It contributed to a very good atmosphere. I think there are many disappointed teams from season 1 and Ganges is one of them. Two days before the end, we thought we had qualified and it was only a question of who we were going to face in the final. Suddenly, we fell to third or fourth. So obviously we have that to correct.

On regrets if a tournament like this wasn't there during his teens or 20s