I have this feeling that I have not cheered enough for Anand this time around. May be I wasn't very active in playing or following chess lately. May be because Anand is already the greatest ever in the kingdom of Chess that I find it hard to find a goal to motivate him. May be because our daily dirt is dead. May be because I was busy and occupied with other stuff. But anyway it shouldn't be too late. Anand needs to be cheered and motivated!

I would think two things are going to be critical and will determine the outcome. a The cheer and the support he will get from his fans and the people around him. b. The measure he has taken to safeguard his seconds, his computers and his preparations.

Anand has more than enough experience now. But in any case it is worth repeating some of the stuff we point out before as a reminder. So I am going to copy and modify some of the advices I listed for Anand Bonn Championship. Please add your thoughts.

1. So first and foremost, expect unexpected tricks from anti-FIDEists! (Nothing to do with Gelfand, he comes across to me as a one of the very straight forward person in the world! So tricks for example, stolen preparations can be passed on to him unaware).

2. Motto - "Win, Win, Win"... right from the word go on the first round. (Personally, I would like for Anand to finish it off in the first seven games!)

3. This does not mean you should win at all costs. But play till the end whatever be the position, whatever be the color, and never play to please your opponent.

4. Expect Gelfand to play some lines not revealing his complete preparation to gauge your strength in the first half. He might repeat those lines and use his saved preparation later on in the second half when you will not have a chance to catch up.

5. Try not repeating the same opening variations more than once even if you had a win with one of the openings. Surprise Gelfand in all the 12 games with off beat, complicated, 21st century lines and blitz him to get huge time advantage out of opening.

6. Take full advantage of your speed skills over Gelfand. Blitz in the opening with complex, double edged lines underprepared by your opponent (Topalovian, Morozevichian style) instead of trying to play to find out the truth in a line.

7. Never blitz in the late middle or end games where your opponent is under time pressure, unless you have a minus position.

8. Keep your opponents and seconds and everyone guessing in all the games. Seconds are like attorneys. They can make or break the case.

9. Identify strengths and weakness and areas of improvement before the match starts. Never listen to any criticism (constructive or destructive) during the championship. You make your own decision from all the inputs you had before the match.

10. Stay focussed throughout until the last move of the championship. You should come out tired looking in all rounds.

11. Work out a contingency plan for possible unexpected scenarios. (like how to prepare and react for losing a game earlier on, losing a game in the late stages etc.)

12. Make sure you have enough nice people around you who can just boost your confidence.

13. Most of all, just be yourself.

14. Good luck and my sincere prayers are with you!

By this time, it's implied.

Anand has adpated very well to his opponents in his last two world championship matches, playing quite aggressively against Kramnik and in a more positional style against Topalov. Logically he should be in "anti-Kramnik" mode against Gelfand, who should be less comfortable in tactical complications than in a positional struggle. It will be interesting whether Anand chooses 1.e4 or 1.d4 as White. More likely 1.d4, as he'll want to avoid the Petroff.

Pirc forgot to give a very pertinent piece of advice: Arrive on time. Don't ignore force majeure as a conspirator.

I think he should use his jab a lot and go to the body in the early rounds. He is the better athlete with better hand-speed and he just has to remember to be patient and not give his opponent chances to score a cheap knock-down or worse.

His opponent is a sturdy veteran who will not go down without a fight but his age is bound to show. He also does not look like he is in peak condition and a persistent body attack can really take his legs out from underneath him.

Finally, Anand has to seal the deal and not rely on the scorecards. We have seen it too many times how the judges decision can be shockingly unpredictable and even incompetent. Go downstairs early, finish the business in the late rounds and get ready for Manny Pacquiao because that's the fight real fans want to see. This is just warm up.

OK, 3 cheers to Anand, hip hip hooray,..., ...!


I would like Anand to do 1.e4, 1.d4 and 1.c4 to keep Gelfand guessing about his preparation. Yeah anti-Kramnik would best suit to deal with Gelfand.


Yeah.. Also I heard that there was an earth quake in Chennai few days ago. But isn't that where we collectively pitch in to make it a force majeure even if it is a force mineur??


The fact that he hasn't given more than 100% in many of his chess outside wc matches should make him to do that. I too want to see him finish it as quickly as he can.

You have got to be kidding me! You think Anand has any chance against the Pac-man? Did you see Manny against Margaritto? I am sorry Pirc but I don't think you know what you are talking about.

For people who are expecting Anand to have a cakewalk, they might do well to notice that Anand probably has a career negative score in classical games against Gelfand. Gelfand always has been a tough nut to crack for him. He might have a bit of vulnerability against irrational play, but Anand is very much a non-irrational player. Therefore, he'd be able to deal with it. It'd be interesting to see if Anand shows up in a Morozevich/Nakamura avatar. That'd probably be the best strategy for him in this match.

Ok, ok. Anand will send the Great Khali for that part!

I don't think you are being serious here - Khali is not a boxer. Even if he was, he is not in the same weight class with Manny. You are starting to confuse me here - what sport are you talking about? I think you have the wrong board in mind buddy - this is not your WWE Smackdown board.