It is a golden generation of Indian chess today: Viswanathan Anand

As Indian players hog the limelight in the Chess World Cup in Baku (Azerbaijan), grandmaster Vishwanathan Anand, who believes the game of chess has changed completely from his time, said that the current crop of players signal the golden generation in Indian chess.

Anand's comments came at a time when young GM Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa is competing in the final of the Chess World Cup against reigning world no 1 Magnus Carlsen of Norway.

News magazine The Week quoted Anand as saying that he was amazed by the fact that most of the current lot possesses a 2,700-plus Elo rating, especially below 20 years of age, terming it "special".

“I'm throwing in the title early, but they are a golden generation. They are all in the 2,700-plus group (Elo rating). And they're all under 20. That just does not happen; it's really something special."

"And what this means, and the reason I call them the golden generation, is they're going to spend the next ten years at the top. With varying career trajectories, of course, but they're going to spend the next 10 years being rivals and colleagues and friends and everything." He was also delighted by the prospect of seeing many Indians competing at an event, compared to his time. Currently, India boasts of many grandmasters in chess and has made a name for itself on the world stage.

“It's a very different vibe because I [have been] used to being the only Indian in a tournament for very long. So, it's incomparable to my experience,” Anand added.

Although he noted that the game of chess has changed in recent times, he was willing to offer advice to the upcoming new generation. “I would share my experiences, especially psychologically speaking and emotionally. But, chess itself has changed so much." "When I was growing up, what we tried to pass on to people was, how do you find better moves? But now, when the computer is giving you the best moves right away or the quickest answer, the thinking almost has to change..."

"So, how does my experience compare with them? I have to be careful. I can share what I think and leave it in the air, but I can't be too prescriptive," Anand signed off. 

(With input from agencies)