Former world champion and chess legend Viswanathan Anand has spoken extremely of his protégé R Praggnanandhaa in an unique interview with NDTV, only a day after the younger chess prodigy beat present world champion Magnus Carlsen to safe second place within the FTX Crypto Cup. This was not the primary time that the teen had overwhelmed Cralsen in his fledgling profession. Within the final one 12 months, the 17-year-old Praggnanandhaa defeated Carlsen on two different events.
Anand, a five-time world chess champion, identified to the truth that Praggnanandhaa beat Carlsen a number of occasions on the identical day on the FTX Crypto Cup, which makes the achievement much more particular.
“R Praggnanandhaa has overwhelmed the reigning world champion thrice, and never in particular person video games. In Miami, as an example, he beat him in a four-game match, with two extra video games. So, he’s not doing it as soon as, he’s doing it a number of occasions on the identical day. And that exhibits how sturdy he’s. Magnus is likely one of the strongest gamers in speedy and blitz as properly – the quicker types of the sport. Praggnanandhaa is thrashing him there,” Anand instructed NDTV.
“It’s phenomenal. It’s extremely uncommon to have somebody who begins off by beating the world champions as a result of that is one of many psychological blocks that you simply conquer on the finish. And right here he’s doing it firstly.”
The teenage chess prodigy and obtained coaching from Anand, who spoke extremely concerning the cool and calm method of Praggnanandhaa below strain.
“He’s a tough employee. However principally, what I like about him, what he actually brings to the desk is his fearlessness and skill to tackle anybody. I imply, he can lose a sport, he might lose a number of video games however he comes again. He has proven that on this match in opposition to not simply Carlsen but in addition (Levon) Aronian, (Alireza) Firouzja, all of the world’s greatest gamers. It is a sample which comes up loads. It is his fearlessness, his skill to bounce again from defeat that’s serving to him proper now,” Anand mentioned.
“He trains laborious. Crucial factor for a participant earlier than a sport is to settle down. To say that ‘no matter is thrown at me, I’ll take care of it.’ If he has overwhelmed Carlsen so might time, sooner or later when he faces him, he’s not going to suppose ‘I’m by no means going to beat him.’ he’ll carry that confidence to the desk. So, he appears to work excellently in not overpreparing, however getting by what he must do,” the chess icon added.
Coping with pressure
Anand revealed one other side of Praggnanandhaa which isn’t identified to many. “He’s very fun-loving, likes to crack jokes. He likes to idiot loads. I believe it is his manner of coping with pressure. And that is fairly good. RB Ramesh, his everlasting coach, is aware of maintain him in the appropriate mind set. He’s fairly playful when he’s along with his sister or household. That helps him ease the stress,” Anand mentioned.
Praggnanandhaa gained the World Youth Chess Championship Below-8 title in 2013. Then in 2016, Praggnanandhaa turned the youngest worldwide grasp on the age of 10 years, 10 months, and 19 days. In 2018, he turned a chess grandmaster on the age of 12 years, 10 months and 13 days.
“It appears laborious to think about. However the factor is chess is bit like a language, it lends itself to this intuitive method. Younger folks usually have that. So, proper now India has a golden era. Not solely do we’ve got Pragg, we’ve got Gukesh D and we’ve got Arjun (Erigaisi). All three of them are performing on the very, very high. Pragg is likely one of the many Indian children who turned a grandmasters below the age of 13,” Anand mentioned.
Promoted
“I’m very proud of the event. Lot of children are taking to the sport and that’s what is driving this revolution. Proper now by way of bench power, India is at it is strongest that it has ever been as a result of we’ve got so many individuals to selected from. Actually, within the chess Olympiad, it was the India ‘B’ workforce consisting principally of children, which gained the bronze.”
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