DNA, e4 and 10n
Imagine. As with the single cell embodying life that multiplies into organisms of varied complexity and capability, so also chess starts with a single move whose possibilities expand exponentially as the battle of brains progresses, the movement of 32 individual pieces across 64 squares alternating between black and white forcing an ever-changing geometry of structure and strategy. Indeed, chess is a metaphor for life… life with its fluctuating patterns of lucidity and intricacy… and infinite positions.
Irrespective of whether or not there exists truth in the belief that the game was conceived as chaturanga in the mind of a mathematician in 6th century India, chess bears a strong resonance with numbers and their properties, and with the basic rules of logic which advance mathematics from self-evidently true propositions termed as axioms to the deduction of new statements. In the assessment of Claude Elwood Shannon, an American mathematician and electronics engineer hailed as the father of information theory, the number of possible positions on the chessboard is 1040 and that of different games 10120 (1 succeeded by 120 0s). It is against the backdrop of such levels of immensity, and the numerous ideas and paths that simultaneously clarify and complicate the grand messages of life, that we measure the methods of Viswanathan Anand.
Anatomy of genius
Consider the Levitt Equation — Elo ~ (10 x IQ) + 1000 (wherein Elo = a rating system named after Hungary-born American physics professor Arpad Elo used for calculating the relative skill levels of chess players; and IQ = Intelligence Quotient). Formulated by British chess player and author Jonathan Levitt, this equation, while it does not represent exact science, attempts to determine the approximate maximum chess score for a given IQ assuming years of extensive training. By reverse deduction, this Chennai-born international Indian, with a current Elo of 2789 and April 2006/2008 peak rating of 2803, has an IQ bordering 180 — a figure supported by attributes of exceptional ‘intelligence’ and described as ‘genius’.
Conceptually, there exists a discernible difference between ‘intelligence’ (mental processing power) and ‘genius’ (ability to express this processing power with extraordinary creativity). Moreover, a distinction must necessarily be drawn between innate mental skills in a general sense and expertise in a specialised field. Furthermore, to state that baseline IQ determines the ceiling of achievement in chess would be erroneous as hard work and training are inescapable on the road to victory. An unqualified attachment to the game, the powers of perseverance and discipline, an analytical mind and a highly competitive spirit are crucial ingredients. And, since chess relies not only on the quality and quantity of creative thinking but also on the speed of execution, it is only where training, tournaments and temperament are complemented by the ability to summon extreme concentration on demand that champions are born.
While appreciating such considerations, it would be beyond rhyme and reason to argue on this point: in a sport wherein competitors at the highest level are powered, even if theoretically, by IQ in the region of 180, the reigning king and the only man to be world champion in three different formats is, by inference, a chess genius.
From mistakes to mastery
Of the numerous factors determining success in chess, and indeed sport in its entirety, the personality of the player is arguably of most significance. A similar precondition holds true in all fields of human endeavour — there exists a chain connecting where you are with how you got there with who and what you are.
As one whose life is inextricably linked with chess, the kind of person Viswanathan Anand is has had a direct bearing on what he is in his chosen sport: world champion.
It is both science and art, about problems and solutions, but central to the core of chess is competition. Victory and defeat. And survival. Illustrative of this situation is the champion’s recently concluded world title duel co-starring challenger Veselin Topalov.
Startling gambles were the exception rather than the norm during the match, innovations appearing not as opening methods of attack but at post-preliminary stages of games when shock therapy is less likely to exert an impact because the flow of play is already set.
While this recurring theme of safety first might have stemmed from the mutual respect the combatants share for each other’s ability, as convincing an assertion is the matter of survival.
For, at the summit of the sport, so fierce is the level of competition and so overwhelming the psychological pressure that even masterminds otherwise acclaimed for sound judgment become susceptible to error. That neither player was flawless throughout the 12-game contest, the result of which was decided by an error committed by the Bulgarian in the 12th game, imparts both immediacy and substance to Viswanathan Anand’s own assessment: “Chess is decided by mistakes; you provoke mistakes from your opponent.” And you must necessarily survive your own mistakes.
Which is not to suggest that 40-year-old Vishy is above mistakes. He erred in various degrees, as do all humans, at various stages during the Sofia showdown, these errors impacting the scoreline after the first and eighth games. He has indicated that, thorough as his preparations were, he might have been served better by alternative paths that were not explored enough. And he has confessed that his rival’s use of the top-end chess engine Rybka 4 and a supercomputer was cause for concern in his camp.
Such human insecurities notwithstanding, what he has spent an entire career doing is turning adversity into advantage by learning — and, thereby, benefiting — from mistakes. Inadvertent though they are, mistakes are unfailingly instructive. This wisdom, though apparently evident and elementary, is beyond the grasp of most for it requires humility and honesty to accept mistakes and alter one’s ways. It requires Viswanathan Anand.
His is a story about finding one’s character and courage in the face of mounting pressure and high expectations.
Choices and decisions
In the opinion of Herbert Alexander Simon, one of the most influential social scientists of the 20th century and among the founding fathers of artificial intelligence, information processing, decision-making and problem-solving, Grandmasters (GMs) of the game wield a decisive advantage over amateur exponents in their ability to recognise ‘meaningful’ (likely to result in real games) chess patterns — a number estimated to be 50,000. Elite GMs draw upon this huge reservoir of reference to form mental images that allow them to reduce perceived complexities to simple positions.
This special analytical ability notwithstanding, situations arising from a game of chess, as in life, could make or break the decision-maker depending on how the individual concerned chooses to strategise. In the words of former champion Garry Kasparov, who reigned over chess for two decades, “A move isn’t good or bad because it looks that way or because it hasn’t been done that way before. It’s simply good if it works and bad if it doesn’t.” The message: since the consequences of chess moves can only be studied in hindsight, each move is potentially crucial to the final result. And each move must bear scrutiny before execution.
Ergo, if the thought process associated with chess is used as a model to understand and improve decision-making elsewhere, the subject of this study qualifies to be a champion across all spheres of life. Because, with regard to how many moves ahead he sees, the answer attributed to the great Cuban chess king Jose Raul Capablanca offers the secret to Viswanathan Anand’s success. “Only one, but it’s always the right one.”
siddharthamishra@expressbuzz.com
Design: KS gunasekar
1969: Viswanathan Anand is born on Dec 11 in Mayiladuthurai as the third child of Viswanathan Iyer and Susheela.
1975: His mother introduces him to the world of chess.
1978: His father is sent for a project in the Philippines, a country obsessed with chess. The same year, the Philippines hosts the World Championship tussle between Anatoly Karpov and Viktor Korchnoi, with allegations of hypnotism, X-rayed chairs and mirrored sunglasses marking the bizarre match.
1979: He returns to India and joins Don Bosco School.
1983: He wins the national sub-junior title, setting a new record of 9/9 points, as well as the national junior crown.
1984: Despite being unwell, he secures the bronze medal in the World Sub-Junior Championship in Paris. He wins the Asian Junior Championship and Lloyd’s Bank Junior Championship. He becomes the youngest Asian International Master.
1985: He defends his Asian junior crown and is honoured with the Arjuna Award.
1986: He becomes the national champion and defends his title for two years in succession.
1987: Becomes the first Indian to be crowned world junior champion and the country’s first Grandmaster.
1992: Comes first ahead of Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov in the Reggio Emilia Tournament besides leading India in the Chess Olympiad, wherein he remains unbeaten. He beats Vassily Ivanchuk 5-3 in an 8-game match in Linares. Though he loses to Garry Kasparov in the Immopar Trophy final in Paris, he finishes ahead of him in the Alekhine Memorial. He also becomes the eighth player to attain a 2700 rating and becomes the first recipient of the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award.
1993: He wins the PCA Interzonal, the strongest Swiss format tournament ever, in Groningen.
1994: A year of major success during which he wins the Melody Amber event in Monaco (ahead of Anatoly Karpov, Vladimir Kramnik, Vassily Ivanchuk), the PCA Grand Prix in Moscow (ahead of Garry Kasparov) and his PCA World Championship quarterfinal clash with Oleg Romanishin in Linares.
1995: He edges past Gata Kamsky in the PCA Candidates final in Las Palmas but loses a nerve-shredding World Championship final to Garry Kasparov at the World Trade Center. He rises to become world number 2 in the z.
1988: He scores another first for an Indian by winning the 51st Hoogovens Chess Tournament in Wijk aan Zee.
1989: He gets the better of two former world champions, Mikhail Tal and Boris Spassky, in the 4th International Games (Veterans vs Youth) Festival in France.
1990: He wins the Asian Zonal, Manchester Chess Festival and Asian Open Championship. He secures 3rd place in the Manila Chess Interzonal and becomes first
Indian to qualify for Candidates Matches leading up to the World Championship.
1991: He beats Alexey Dreev in their Candidates match in Chennai to become the first Asian to qualify for the World Championship quarterfinals. However, he loses to Anatoly Karpov in the quarterfinals in Brussels.
1993: He wins the PCA Interzonal, the strongest Swiss format tournament ever, in Groningen.
1994: A year of major success during which he wins the Melody Amber event in Monaco (ahead of Anatoly Karpov, Vladimir Kramnik, Vassily Ivanchuk), the PCA Grand Prix in Moscow (ahead of Garry Kasparov) and his PCA World Championship quarterfinal clash with Oleg Romanishin in Linares.
1995: He edges past Gata Kamsky in the PCA Candidates final in Las Palmas but loses a nerve-shredding World Championship final to Garry Kasparov at the World Trade Center. He rises to become world number 2 in the z.
1996: He becomes joint winner of the Dortmund Tournament and avenges his World Championship loss to Garry Kasparov by beating him to win the Credit Suisse Rapid Chess GP in Geneva. And he ties the knot with Aruna.
1997: He secures his place in the World Championship final by edging out Alexei Shirov, Boris Gelfand and Michael Adams. He wins the Chess Classic Rapid Tournament, eclipsing Anatoly Karpov in the final. He becomes one of very few players to
simultaneously play and win (4-2)against machines in the Aegon Man vs Computers chess event.
1998: He wins six tournaments and the Chess Oscar for 1997 but the world title proves elusive as he loses in the tie-breaker to Anatoly Karpov, who was seeded straight into the final whereas he had to play 31 games in 30 days. He achieves a career-high Elo rating of 2795, just 5 points short of the magical 2800 mark achieved till then only by Garry Kasparov.
1999: He wins his second successive Chess Oscar and defeats Anatoly Karpov 5-1 in advanced chess (played with the aid of computers) in Leon. He also posts a plus-six score in Linares.
2000: He defeats Alexei Shirov (3.5-0.5) in the FIDE World Championship finals (Teheran and New Delhi) to become the official champion. He also wins five more titles in seven tournaments.
2001: Despite winning four tournaments (and completing a hat-trick in Leon), he succumbs to Vassily Ivanchuk in the World Championship semifinals.
2002: He wins the Eurotel World Chess Trophy before spearheading Rest of the World to a historic win over Russia in Moscow. Later, he outwits world champion Ruslan Ponomariov in an 8-game rapid match in Mainz. He wraps up the year with a comeback win over Anatoly Karpov to complete a hat-trick in the Corsica Masters.
2003: He becomes the first player to win three unshared titles (rapid, blindfold, overall) in the 12th Amber Chess event in Monte Carlo. He wins five of the six tournaments in which he participates.
2004: He beats Vladimir Kramnik in Dortmund and passes him in the ratings list to become world number 2 behind Garry Kasparov. He claims the Corsica Masters title for the fifth year in succession.
2005: He keeps his record in Mainz intact, winning for the fifth year in a row, and reinforces his domination in rapid chess. However, in the World Championship (tournament format), he finishes joint second with Peter Svidler, finishing behind Veselin Topalov.
2006: He becomes the only player to win the Corus tournament a record five times and the Mainz event for the seventh successive time.
2007: A draw against Vassily Ivanchuk not only enables him to win the title in Linares for the first time since 1998 but also makes him the number 1 player in the rankings for the first time. In the unified World Championship, he becomes the first undisputed champion to win the title in the tournament format since Mikhail Botvinnik in 1948.
2008: He beats Vladimir Kramnik 6.5-4.5 in matchplay to defend his world title. In the process, he becomes the first player to be world champion in three different formats. He reigns in Mainz again, winning his ninth title on the trot and 11th overall.
2010: After enduring a 40-hour drive to reach the venue in Sofia, he defends his world crown by defeating Veselin Topalov (6.5-5.5), victory coming with black pieces in the 12th game of the match.