What a Vishy Anand Win Means To My Generation
#AnandCarlsen : Experience Over Sheer Talent - And No Age Limits
Four matches have been played in the FIDE World Chess Championship.
Even though I'm not an avid fan of chess, I've remained glued to my computer watching the battle between two great chess minds.
Not because the nuances of their talented chess strategy fascinates or educates me. I'm a relative ignoramus when it comes to more than moving my knight "two steps, then right or left".
The reason I spent 6 hours on Thursday observing a hard-fought battle between two geniuses has to do with more than what's happening on a 64-square checkerboard.
It has to do with life itself.
And with winning!
Vishwanathan 'Vishy' Anand is the reigning world champion of chess. Magnus Carlsen is his young, supremely gifted challenger.
Anand is in his forties. A contemporary of mine. A friend, too. We went to the same high-school, have met since he grew world famous, and is one of the sportsmen I deeply respect and admire for the person he still remains - humble, genuine and friendly.
Magnus is in his twenties.
The "challenger"- on so many levels.
Youth pitted against middle-age.
Talent standing up to experience.
Brash confidence beating on wisdom.
I read a nice piece on ChessBase.com :
"As much as we love Anand, we are all praise for Magnus as well. Personally, I would be proud to have a son like him... gems, after all, are not only assets to their families but to the entire world. They are the flag bearers of human competence, and even while I root for Anand with all my heart, it doesn't mean a bit that I want Carlsen to play badly, or say negative things about him. He is remarkable and he should continue doing justice to the game."
It nicely echoes my own thoughts and feelings about the individual who is set on unsettling the champ from his throne.
But what's also in my heart, as in many other Indian hearts, is the dream of a Vishy Anand win!
“He is still the lightning king who amazes everyone with his demeanor. The World needs a champion like him to stay on."
Not just because I'd love Vishy to win the title for his little son, playing in his home town, in front of his parents, and a passionate crowd of hundreds of millions of fans and fellow citizens... but because there's also another point to a Vishy Anand win for my generation.
That experience has an edge over sheer raw talent.
That age is entirely one's own perception.
That with effort, everything is possible.
That mind can win over matter.
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