Author Interview: Up close and personal with Vishy

Chess Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand, fondly called Vishy, is the exact opposite of a wishy-washy person. Even off the board, the five-time world title winner is someone who makes up his mind quickly and plans meticulously for the task ahead. Anand stuck by what he decided a couple of years ago and launched a book of his own — Mind Master: Winning Lessons from a Champion’s Life — on his 50th birthday (December 11) in Chennai. A few days after the legend struck a half-century, DT Next caught up with him for a free-wheeling chat. Excerpts:

The thought was there for quite some time, but I never got to finish it. I have reached the point in my career where I can narrate more or less the complete story. Clearly, there was a natural deadline — my 50th birthday — and it was actually quite convenient for us. With ‘that’ day in mind, there was a sense of urgency. We (Vishy and Susan Ninan) started writing the book roughly two years ago. I am happy to get it done because there also comes a time when you have to finish the job.

It was the final vote in the end, most people liked that title. Mind Master seemed to convey the essence. To be honest, I was not fixated on the title. I was more focused on what the stories and lessons were.  

It is a book about a chess player, but it isn’t entirely about the game. It is very much intended for non-chess people as well. We have written in detail about the key moments and what I learned from them. The concept was to have a collection of life lessons and my experiences. We have overemphasised certain things at the expense of covering all the events that happened.

 It does contain a bit about Chennai because of the very fact that I grew up here. It is the best place to be if you want to be a chess player in India. It was as true then as it is now. Chennai is definitely a theme, but we haven’t gone in-depth about it.

I would say, no. I had a feeling that if I have to make the book longer, I could come up with more episodes. I think I have covered all important moments (personal and career highlights). I talk about our son’s birth which is significant for us. There are also points about my school life, marriage, friends I met on my journey etc. I have also written about my mother’s death that happened four years ago. I fear I would have left out someone who I would like to thank.  

Ideally, you try to avoid mistakes in every move. Some mistakes can be overcome while some can be fatal. If you are willing to fight and keep on fighting, there are more opportunities than what you realise. But, it is a struggle. If you keep fighting even when the moment is hopeless, then you will be wasting your time. So, you will have to balance out the energy you spend. Unless you fight for every half-a-point, you cannot become a world champion. As the margins get tougher, you will have to grab every opportunity that comes your way. You will never be perfect but you have to keep on trying to be.

I do block out certain things. I keep my phone open for my trainer as we will have to stay in touch. When I am preparing for a competition, I will not read anything about what people say. I will not try to get any feedback and try to cut myself off because what people say will sit in your head and affect you.

Yes. The funny thing is that my superstitions are changing. My superstition is simply to do what worked last time. It’s all typical stuff — favourite pens and shirts. Sometimes, it gets even more obsessive. I have exactly the same omelette I had the previous day. Say I went for a walk in a certain place at a particular time and won a match. I repeat that all over again the following day. We start overthinking because we are so tensed. At some level, I understand superstitions make no sense but I can’t help it.