With live online streaming and uninterrupted in-depth computer analysis, chess is making all the right moves i... Read More

BENGALURU: With live online streaming and uninterrupted in-depth computer analysis, chess is making all the right moves in becoming a spectator sport. But does this new-age modern technology sometimes kill the excitement that the world's greatest mind game can generate?

During Game 6 of the World Chess Championships last month, Viswanathan Anand failed to capitalize on a winning opportunity that his opponent Magnus Carlsen gave him and instead blundered himself. Aided with prompt, live computer analysis, netizens and chess aficionados erupted on social networking sites and forums in castigating Anand for his bungling move.

"It's not enjoyable but certainly fair," Anand said on the sidelines of a NIIT Nguru MathLab Plus programme on Tuesday. "Would we rather they didn't watch? That won't be realistic. But what I would emphasize to spectators is that if you don't switch off your computer once in a while and think for yourself, you will never experience what the players go through."

The five-time world champion stressed that constant use of computer-aided analysis can rob the spectator of the human elements - indecision, nerves and hesitation - that are involved in chess. "You're missing a lot of the excitement if you think the next move is easy, simply because the computer has already deduced it. The player might have seen 99% of what the computer saw, but his indecision on whether he should make the move or not...you miss out on the human elements of the struggle," Anand explained.

Psychological warfare perhaps works the best in chess as compared to other sports as the famous Anatoly Karpov-Viktor Korchnoi and Karpov-Garry Kasparov battles have shown in the early 80s. "It's definitely a major aspect in chess," said the 45-year-old Grandmaster. "The old technique used to be to trash each other during interviews. Some of the psychological intimidation is good, when you look energetic, confident and ready to take bold risks. But there's also the bad side, where you could needle someone or try to mess up his team. I think psychological warfare exists in all walks of life."

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