Kasparov: Chess World Championship Debased

© RIA Novosti . Vladimir Vyatkin / Go to the mediabankWorld title match betweenViswanathan Anand and Boris Gelfand
World title match betweenViswanathan Anand and Boris Gelfand - Sputnik International
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Former world chess champion Garry Kasparov has strongly criticised the world title match under way between defending champion Viswanathan Anand and challenger Boris Gelfand, claiming that neither player is the best in the world.

Former world chess champion Garry Kasparov has strongly criticised the world title match under way between defending champion Viswanathan Anand and challenger Boris Gelfand, claiming that neither player is the best in the world.

India’s Anand lost to Kasparov in a match for the breakaway PCA title in 1995, but has won the world championship four times since 2000, while Gelfand is playing in his first championship match.

“It’s the first time in the history of the world championship that the match for the title of world champion has nothing to do with the strongest player in the world,” Kasparov said.

Anand lacks his earlier passion, and this was evident at the World Chess Classic in London in December, Kasparov said.

“Regarding Anand, he’s lost interest in the game. I saw how he played in London in December and a player of that level should approach the game differently.”

“I’ve played with him a lot and in London I saw an unusual difference in his approach to the game.”

Anand and Gelfand are tied at 2.5-2.5 after the first five games, all draws, and Kasparov said nothing was likely to change soon.

“This caution will continue because Anand is afraid of losing and Gelfand doesn’t believe that he can win after a defeat. I think another draw awaits us,” he said.

Gelfand, 43, gained the right to become the world title contender after a win last May over the Russian Alexander Grischuk at a contenders' tournament in Kazan, Russia.

After a total of 12 games over three weeks winner will receive $1.5 million, while the loser will earn $1 million. The last match will take place May 31.

Russian billionaire Andrey Filatov, a school friend of Gelfand’s, paid $7 million from his own pocket to hold the event in one of the halls of Moscow’s renowned State Tretyakov Gallery before the eyes of some 400 spectators.

Many others follow the matches on the huge electronic board hanging outside.

 

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