Vishwanathan Anand

15-th World Chess Champion

“The biggest problem recently is that after seven or eight months of not playing chess, you forget that aspect. I mean, I sort of know what the young chess players are doing and when. I can do commentary, and it’s not that my moves would be totally off. But it’s another thing when you’re actually playing.

The thought of, “What am I actually going to do now? What opening am I going to play?”. All these decisions, you forget how to think about after a long break.

Basically, at the end of last year in Kolkata, I had the feeling that I’d reached my limit just coming to watch the tournament. It’s much harder than playing. I got fed up with not playing. It’s funny you come to a tournament and the first year you enjoy it. The following year, you do it again, but last year I thought: “How many years can I just stand there and watch?”.

I pretty much knew it was better to make the decision to play rather than keep delaying. And I tried to get ready. I already had it in my mind that I wanted to play.”