GG News Bureau
Bengaluru, 6th Feb. Indian chess maestro and former world champion Viswanathan Anand envisions his elite academy as a springboard for emerging Indian talent.
Anand, renowned for clinching his first world championship in 2000 followed by an impressive streak from 2007 to 2012, now mentors young aspirants at his WestBridge Anand Chess Academy (WACA), aiming to cultivate the next generation of chess prodigies.
“I hope that WACA could ensure that simply by having four or five extremely strong players out there and building a constant pipeline, that Indian chess fans will have something to look forward to in almost every tournament,” he shared with Reuters.
Launched in December 2020, shortly after the surge in chess interest fueled by “The Queen’s Gambit,” the academy focuses on fostering competitive spirit rather than collaborative strategies seen during the Cold War era.
Anand emphasizes the importance of rivalry among WACA’s students, noting its role in propelling their progress. Sandeep Singhal, Anand’s partner in founding the academy, envisions WACA producing “five to 10 players in the world’s top 20.”
With WACA’s notable presence in the global chess scene, including talents like 18-year-old Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, who made headlines as the youngest player to reach the Chess World Cup final last year, the academy’s impact is evident.
Mentored by grandmasters, including Anand himself, WACA’s players emphasize the human element in training, valuing emotional intelligence and competitive drive over computer-based approaches.
Anand advocates for chess’s adaptation to new formats to engage broader audiences, citing the success of the franchise-based Global Chess League (GCL) as a promising avenue.
He emphasized the need for chess to evolve and diversify its appeal, reaching out to various audiences akin to mainstream sports leagues.
“Chess will have to approach all audiences like every sport in the world,” Anand concludes, underscoring the necessity of embracing innovation to propel the game forward.
