Viswanathan Anand receives SJFI medal in Chennai and shares advice for D Gukesh

Five-time World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand was awarded the Sports Journalists Federation of India (SJFI) medal during a ceremony at the Madras Cricket Club in Chennai on Wednesday, where he shared crucial advice for 18-year-old Grandmaster D Gukesh ahead of his upcoming World Championship match.

The felicitation event was hosted by the SJFI in partnership with the Tamil Nadu Sports Journalists’ Association (TNSJA). Anand became the latest recipient of the prestigious SJFI medal during the gathering.

On the sidelines of the event, Anand spoke about how the young Chennai Grandmaster can cope with the immense mental pressure of the sport. He suggested that Gukesh carefully manage his competition-rest routine before defending his title against Javokhir Sindarov in the winter.

"I don’t think there are easy formulas for that. Yeah, as long as you get some rest, some play, and some training, you can do it in the order you want," Anand said regarding the balance between preparation and rest.

Addressing the challenge of becoming a world champion at just 18 years old, Anand emphasized the need to block out external noise and focus entirely on the board.

"I would say it is about getting back to the level where you were at. And you block out other things. Becoming world champion at 18 is a big change in your life and how other people look at you. So there is a lot of mental stuff to unpack, but in the end you have to hunker down and play good chess again. That is the only thing you can do," Anand said.

Apart from the upcoming Championship match in November-December, Gukesh will also be defending two gold medals at the Chess Olympiad. Anand noted that he expects China and Uzbekistan to be serious contenders in that tournament, pointing to a growing India-Uzbekistan rivalry.

Anand also spoke about Chennai Grandmaster R Vaishali, who won the women’s Candidates tournament earlier this year. He noted that a victory for her in her upcoming Championship match could significantly boost the fortunes of women's chess across India.