Amid 'very long meetings' and running chess world, has Anand lost 'hunger' to win?

Viswanathan Anand, the five-time world chess champion and newly appointed interim president of FIDE, has found himself balancing a demanding leadership role with his return to competitive chess. Since assuming the presidency on July 24, 2026, following Arkady Dvorkovich’s resignation due to European Union and Swiss sanctions, Anand has taken on the responsibility of steering the global chess organization through a transitional phase until the scheduled presidential elections on September 26. Despite the increased workload, the 56-year-old Grandmaster insists that his passion for the game remains undiminished, particularly as he prepares to compete in the Global Chess League (GCL) with the Alaskan Knights this season. Anand described the transition from deputy president to interim leader as significantly more demanding. “It’s more work than being deputy president,” he said during an exclusive interview. “When I was the deputy, I only had to step in when Arkady couldn’t make it. Now, I have to conduct a lot of the federation.” His schedule has been filled with numerous virtual meetings, often lasting several hours, involving stakeholders from around the globe. However, despite the heavy administrative burden, Anand emphasized that his personal commitment to competitive chess has not wavered. “I can tell you my hunger for the GCL trophy is still there,” he stated. “I would very much love for us, though I’m playing with Alaskan Knights this year, to pull that off. I’m very motivated, and I hope to do my best and get us into the final first.” Anand’s return to the GCL marks a notable shift in his recent career trajectory. Having previously represented the Ganges Grandmasters, he now joins a new team, bringing with him a wealth of experience and strategic insight. While acknowledging the challenges of adapting to a new environment, Anand expressed confidence in his ability to integrate seamlessly into the Alaskan Knights lineup. “Once I go there and meet my teammates, on the first day itself, it’ll feel normal,” he noted. “I have played with Arjun before; two years ago, he was my teammate. There are familiar faces, and you’ll just adjust.” Despite the demands of his new role, Anand maintains a disciplined approach to managing his time. “Generally, I stick to my routine, that’s all,” he said. “It’s not like I will keep a lot of FIDE meetings; if there’s some FIDE emergency, I might take a decision quickly, but otherwise I don’t expect to have long meetings while I’m there. I focus very much on the GCL.” The timing of Anand’s return to competitive play coincides with a significant milestone for another rising star in the chess world, Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa. The 17-year-old Indian prodigy recently claimed the Grand Chess Tour (GCT) title, defeating Fabiano Caruana in the finals. This achievement marked a historic moment, making Praggnanandhaa the first Indian to win the prestigious tournament. American Grandmaster Levon Aronian, who had previously defeated Praggnanandhaa in the GCT finals a year earlier, acknowledged the younger player’s remarkable progress. “After last year’s GCT finals, where I beat him, I thought that blitz and rapid are his weak points, and that should be exploited,” Aronian said. “And to be honest, I’m surprised. I think he made good progress in those aspects.” Aronian praised Praggnanandhaa’s resilience and dedication, noting that the young player had demonstrated an impressive ability to overcome challenges and close gaps in his gameplay. “You have to compliment and congratulate somebody who’s working hard to fix their weaknesses,” Aronian said. “So I’m happy for him because he’s a fighter and he’s a very likeable person.” Viswanathan Anand echoed these sentiments, offering high praise for Praggnanandhaa’s performance. “I think at the moment, I would say he’s the number one player in the world,” Anand asserted. Highlighting Praggnanandhaa’s ability to stage dramatic comebacks, Anand pointed to the young player’s success in the Norway Chess tournament, where he turned his fortunes around after initially struggling. “He has this capacity, and it’s becoming more and more noticeable that he’s able to win late games and change everything,” Anand remarked. “And that’s a very, very rare skill and useful skill to have.” As the chess world continues to evolve, the presence of both Anand and Praggnanandhaa underscores the dynamic nature of the sport. Their respective journeys, one rooted in decades of experience and leadership, the other defined by youthful ambition and meteoric rise, reflect the ongoing transformation within the global chess community. With Anand poised to lead FIDE through a critical period and Praggnanandhaa emerging as a formidable force on the international stage, the future of chess promises to be as compelling as ever.