CHENNAI: World No. 4 Hiraku Nakamura
has emerged as a name to reckon with in recent times. Speaking
exclusively to TOI, the 25 year-old, who broke Bobby Fischer's record to
become the youngest American GM at 15, opens up on a host of issues
ranging from the pressure Kasparov's presence
could put on the players, the increasing redundancy of 'travelling'
seconds and whom he considers favourite for the title. Excerpts:
Kasparov is in the city. How do you see his presence affecting the players psychologically?
I do not foresee Kasparov's presence affecting Anand at all. After all, he has spent most of his chess career in the shadow of Kasparov and will surely not be distracted. However, I do think that his presence in India will affect Carlsen, especially if he attempts to give advice or be involved in terms of trying to help. Having also trained with Kasparov for most of 2011, I can say his presence and persona bring about an extreme level of pressure which most players cannot handle.
How do you see the Anand-Carlsen match going in the days ahead?
It is very hard to predict how the match will go in the following days, but thus far Anand has definitely got the upper hand in the match. Essentially, with every passing game that Carlsen fails to gain an advantage, let alone win with white, the pressure will keep building.
What sets Carlsen apart from others?
The two biggest differences between Carlsen and everyone else in regard to tournament play is his level of consistency and ability to convert every opportunity.
Who do you think will win this duel and why?
I think if Carlsen does not win tomorrow or at least show some sort of advantage, then the rest of the match will be in Anand's favour. While it is hard to pick a winner, I think that at the moment, Anand is a small favourite.Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Kasparov is in the city. How do you see his presence affecting the players psychologically?
I do not foresee Kasparov's presence affecting Anand at all. After all, he has spent most of his chess career in the shadow of Kasparov and will surely not be distracted. However, I do think that his presence in India will affect Carlsen, especially if he attempts to give advice or be involved in terms of trying to help. Having also trained with Kasparov for most of 2011, I can say his presence and persona bring about an extreme level of pressure which most players cannot handle.
How do you see the Anand-Carlsen match going in the days ahead?
It is very hard to predict how the match will go in the following days, but thus far Anand has definitely got the upper hand in the match. Essentially, with every passing game that Carlsen fails to gain an advantage, let alone win with white, the pressure will keep building.
What sets Carlsen apart from others?
The two biggest differences between Carlsen and everyone else in regard to tournament play is his level of consistency and ability to convert every opportunity.
Who do you think will win this duel and why?
I think if Carlsen does not win tomorrow or at least show some sort of advantage, then the rest of the match will be in Anand's favour. While it is hard to pick a winner, I think that at the moment, Anand is a small favourite.Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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