Mindgame master Vishy not so sure about his own mind

New Delhi, June 2 (UNI) World champion Vishwananthan Anand may have successfully read and outwitted many a rivals' moves in the 64-square black and white pieces' game but the World No 1 chess player runs short of ideas when it comes to charting his own moves in life.

''I am unprepared......I don't know what I will do if I don't play chess,'' an otherwise confident Anand told UNI when asked about life after chess here today.

''I will keep playing till I am enjoying the game....till there is no flagging of desire. I don't think it's possible to say what I will do if I don't play,'' Anand said.

Anand, who goes to the gym regularly to keep his mind refreshed and focussed said, ''It's important to manage ones' schedule properly so that one doesn't underachieve and at the same time will have to be careful not overdo it.'' Inspite of stationing himself in Spain for more than a decade now, the champion's heart still beats for India. ''I think I have never left India till now. Earlier, I used to travel a lot and stayed away for months from home to give myself more chances of playing in international tournaments. It was important to settle there.

''But I don't intend to stop playing anytime soon, so I really can't say when I will come back as I am not prepared to do that as of now atleast,'' Anand said to a question on when he was planning to come back to India.

In the capital for NIIT's Graduation day, the chess wizard also admitted he is a nervous man in the moments leading upto an important event. ''I am quite tense till the game starts because you know you can't walk back then, so once at the board I stop worrying,'' he said.

After sweeping virtually every tournament on offer, whether not being an Olympian affects him, the 37-year-old politely said, ''A little more than zero point something per cent. For the moment, I am pretty happy.'' He also hoped India's recent impressive records will see chess being included as one of the disciplines in the Olympics soon. The sport has already made its debut in the Asian Games.

Always at pains to explain his superior record in the Rapid version compared to the Classical version of the game, Anand said,''Look there are more chances of mistakes in classical games because it involves long time.... something like seven hours at times while the Rapid is for a much shorter period. Although I enjoy the Classicals I am more of an intuitive player, so my Rapid records is better.

The champion also recalled the painful moments where he had a slump for months in 2001-02 till he won an event after being an 'underdog' there. ''Never get disheartened by failure or overwhelmed by success. Maybe I had become obsessed with results and the passion was something I was missing then...So its important to be passionate about what you do,''Anand advised the GNIIT students passing out on their last day.

Anand, who maintains chess has its own loyal followers compared to more glamorous sports like cricket and football, said he is not keen on taking on the Super Computer as yet.

''I am concentrating and motivated to play the World championships to be held in Mexico in September now,'' he says.

UNI