Chess with Errol

Anand wants his world title back

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The big news circulating within the chess world is that Anand wants his world championship title back. In late December, the beaten world chess champion told the Times of India that he may not attempt to regain his throne which he lost to Magnus Carlsen of Norway. Asked if he had decided to appear in the pre-qualifying Candidates chess tournament to determine a challenger for Carlsen, the 44-year-old Anand declared: “No not at the moment. I mean, most likely I won’t play.’’

20140126tiwariBut now, it has become clear that Anand has had a change of heart. When the decision day for inclusion or rejection arrived, and FIDE, the World Chess Federation, published the names the eight participants of the Candidates tournament, Anand was heading the list.

 

The Candidates is the only way for one to qualify as a challenger to the world champion, and it begins on March 11, in Khanty Mansiysk, Siberia, Russia. The list of players for the Candidates are as follows:

There seems to be a strenuous commitment towards the promotion of chess in schools on the part of 17-year-old Carlos Rahaman (in photo above) of One Mile, Wismar. Carlos is currently tutoring, at his own request, some 24 students of the Silver City Primary school, Wismar. He turned up to play in the Trophy Stall chess tournament two weeks ago, but arrived late travelling from Black Bush Polder, and regrettably, he could not participate. But he is confident he would be back for a subsequent tournament of the Chess Federation, and this time he would be accompanied by some of his “grandmaster?” prospects !
There seems to be a strenuous commitment towards the promotion of chess in schools on the part of 17-year-old Carlos Rahaman (in photo above) of One Mile, Wismar. Carlos is currently tutoring, at his own request, some 24 students of the Silver City Primary school, Wismar. He turned up to play in the Trophy Stall chess tournament two weeks ago, but arrived late travelling from Black Bush Polder, and regrettably, he could not participate. But he is confident he would be back for a subsequent tournament of the Chess Federation, and this time he would be accompanied by some of his “grandmaster?” prospects !

Candidate                                                   Country                Rating        Rank                Qualification

1. Vishy Anand                                                 India                     2773             9                      Previous world champion

2. Vladimir Kramnik                                        Russia                   2787            4                      World Cup 2013 winner

3. Dimitry Andreikin                                       Russia                   2709           41                     World Cup 2013 finalist

4. Veselin Topolov                                          Bulgaria                 2785              5                    Grand Prix 2012-2013 winner

5. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov                          Azerbaijan            2757             12                    Grand Prix 2012-2013 runner-up

6. Levon Aronian                                            Armenia                2812              2                     Rating list 2012-2013

7. Sergey Karjakin                                           Russia                   2759            10                    Rating list 2012-2013

8. Peter Svidler                                                Russia                   2758             11                   Host nominee

 

Barring Carlsen, the list represents the finest active players in the world. The tournament could be won by anyone, because the difference in rating points is not that significant. Anand has successfully defended his world championship title a total of five times beating both Kramnik and Topalov in the process.

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