Kasparov regrets leaving chess: Anand

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Hitting back at Garry Kasparov, world champion Viswanathan Anand on Sunday said the Russian legend's remark about him was nothing but frustration of a player, who misses 'attention' and 'regrets his retirement' from the game.

Kasparov, during Anand's world championship match against Boris Gelfand, had said that the Indian lacked motivation and was 'sliding downhill' these years.

However, Anand succesfully defended his crown, which was a befitting answer to his critics such as Kasparov.

"We were asked about his remarks. He is the man who regrets leaving chess. He misses the attention he got in chess, somehow wants to be there. May be he should play again," Anand said at his first press conference in the country after winning his fifth world title.

Anand said maybe Kasparov wants him to retire.

"Kasparov retired in 2005, he has been trying to make me retire since 2011. You just have to develop a thick skin as a public figure," he said.

When Anand had drawn the sixth straight game against Gelfand during the world championship in Moscow, Kasparov hit out at the Indian, saying: "What I think with Vishy is that he has lost motivation. Gelfand hasn't won a single game against Vishy since 1993.

"As for Vishy, I think he's sliding downhill these (last) years. He wants to win, he knows he's a better player, but it's not enough."

The Indian chess legend said he shuts himself down when he is locked in a tournament, to avoid distraction.

"In general I try not to read anything during world championships. I try to stay in a bubble. The idea is to block it out. He came to the match venue and gave a PC," he said.

Anand also gave a detailed account of his preparations leading up to the match and the turning points during it.

"My training was from Jan 15 to April 15. This time my preparation was very intensive because I did not have a camp. Last year I was busy playing tournaments," he said.

"We worked very hard and developed some thoughts. I had several systems prepared with black and white. You always had to start with something new. I knew Gelfand since 1989 and always thought he was very professional and disciplined chess player."

"Someone who had good understanding of the game. He is someone who embodies the best traditions of Soviet Union chess. I knew he would come up with some of the best preparation and he did," he added.

Anand said Gelfand was a tough nut to crack and had his own set of innovations.

"Boris was a very complicated opponent. He managed to set all his dominant opening aside and come up with entirely new openings. I had to prepare for all the possible things he could do. He prepared very cleverly. We were continuously playing catch-up during the match," Anand recalled.

"With the white pieces, he managed to steer clear of our dangerous ideas. This reflected how seriously he was taking the match. It was only in game 11 and 12 that we were able to break out a bit," he said.

Anand also explained the turning points of the match.

"Most of these big matches come down to one or two turning points. If you don't know how to grab them when they come, that's when the success or failure is decided," he said.

"In game seven, we managed to stumble on one area we had not worked as thoroughly as others. It was most difficult moment of the match, I didn't sleep. I was all very disturbed."

"At that point I could not tell myself that it was the turning point. But in game eight, I had done a lot of work on the main areas but we didn't neglect other areas. I wasn't completely without weapons at that time," he added.

Anand said a few changes here and there helped him take Gelfand by surprise.

"I don't know whether I caught him by surprise but he reacted aggressively. I was excited about what was to come. I thought I could put him under pressure. The turning point happened very quickly. He made some wrong moves and I was very happy that I could get back into the match. I cannot emphasise how important this moment was," Anand said.

"After equalising in the eighth game, I could play the rest of the match in peace," he added.

Anand said the second turning point of the match came in the tiebreak.

"In the first game, for the first time I could get openings from black pieces. I felt that suddenly the match was opening up. Game two was very back and forth. I prepared strong ideas but he showed what a great defender he was. However, he lacked in the end and he was also short of time."

Anand was, however, appreciative of his rival.

"We both felt genuine respect for each other. I am really happy to have retained my title. Now I can really relax and enjoy this," he said.

Anand also thanked his support team and his wife Aruna for taking the load off him mentally.

"The workload in the match is huge, the team helps manage the workload. They allow you to rest and recuperate during the match. My team, the five of us, we have become very close. Very often they would say things are collapsing but you sleep and that gives you a lot of confidence. In the tie-break they gave me confidence.

"Aruna and I got married in 1996. She knew nothing about chess when we got married but gradually she has begun to play an important role. She takes a lot of load off me. She knows when to say something and when not to," he laughed.

Anand also brushed aside criticism that the introduction of the tie-break system takes the sheen off the World Championships by making it less exciting.

"The system is much more fair now. I don't think there should be anyone with any objection to tie-break. I find it fair and a lot of fans really enjoy the tiebreak. I returned home to an absolutely wonderful reception. Would like to thank everyone who took the trouble of coming out," he said.