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Chess helped me become what I am, it’s time for me to give back: Viswanathan Anand
The Hindu
“I have long aspired to come into the chess administration and this opportunity as the Deputy President will be a huge learning curve for me,” said Anand
It’s time to give back to the sport, says the legendary Viswanathan Anand, who is seeking to enter global chess administration with an aim to make it professionally more enticing for the youth.
Anand, whose moves on the board still leave opponents grasping at straws, wants to fully commit himself as “someone” who can work towards the betterment of the sport.
In an exclusive interview with PTI, the five-time world champion charted out his future plans, days after the All India Chess Federation (AICF) unanimously decided to endorse his candidature for the Deputy President’s post in the forthcoming FIDE election.
“Compared to three or four years back, I have cut down on my time as a active chess player. I have long aspired to come into the chess administration and this opportunity as the Deputy President will be a huge learning curve for me,” Anand remarked.
“The game of chess helped me become what I am today. It’s time for me to give back. The idea is to encourage more youth to take up the sport seriously and make it a profession. I will communicate my ideas and vision once I am elected to the new panel,” he added.
While Anand will be part of incumbent Arkady Dvorkovich’s panel, among other candidates is the seasoned administrator and former Deputy President of the international chess federation, Bachar Kouatly.
However, Anand believes the Dvorkovich administration will have a clear advantage over the others because of the work done by them to make the sport immensely popular, especially at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.