Chess benefits when Magnus Carlsen competes: Viswanathan Anand

NAGPUR: Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand is looking forward to the Candidates chess tournament where Praggnanandhaa and three Indian women (Divya Deshmukh, Koneru Humpy and Vaishali R) will compete in Cyprus in March-April next year.

Anand, who turned 56 on Thursday, said he felt warmed up after his recent competitive streak with Garry Kasparov, Arjun Erigaisi, and Faustino Oro during the ‘clash of generations’ exhibition match.



“Given that I didn’t play for many months this year, I feel warmed up, and with Garry — the recovery and my performance in Jerusalem — I think it’s something to build on. With Arjun as well, it’s something to build on,” Anand, mentor of Ganges Grandmasters in the Global Chess League, said.

On the league’s decision to add time increment for the GCL, Anand said, “I think it’s very nice. You still get the 40-move excitement, but losing games just because you can’t win with an extra queen when you have only three seconds is not very nice. I think it’s a good addition.”

When asked about India’s presence in the 2026 Candidates, he said, “Last time there were three boys and two women. This year we have three women but only one boy. And given that Gukesh is world champion, he is essentially our candidate for the next match. He is already qualified. It’s also very good for Pragg — he had a great year and I’m looking forward to the Candidates.”

On Arjun’s so-near-yet-so far affair with the Candidates, Anand said, “What Arjun is doing is correct — he keeps improving. He remains a fascinating player and will be exciting to watch in GCL as well. He will definitely have (his) chances. And with many new tournaments and the fast chess/total chess circuit, he will get many opportunities.”

Continuing with the concept of the Total Champion initiative of Norway Chess and FIDE, which brings Magnus Carlsen back and validates the world title in a new format, Anand said, “It’s a pleasure to work with Norway Chess — they have a serious long-term proposal. And like I keep saying, the sport benefits when Carlsen competes.”

Asked to pick his favourite Indian woman in the Candidates field, Anand said, “Humpy shows a lot of tenacity and continues competing at a high level. Divya and Vaishali are very motivated and work very hard. It’s exciting that they are in the Candidates.”

Anand wasn’t surprised by the rise of women’s world cup winner Divya Deshmukh. “It was obvious she had a lot of potential. It’s nice that the World Cup happened and she got to show it. And it’s great that she’s competing in multiple events — Grand Swiss, World Cup, etc.”

Asked who will be the next big name in Indian chess after the trio of Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa, and Arjun, Anand said, “There are many youngsters. Pranav Venkatesh is getting strong. Pranav Anand is having a good year. I don’t know who will break out first, but we have a lot of depth and some of them will break through soon.”


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