Amidst “very long meetings” and running the chess world, has Viswanathan Anand lost his “hunger” to win? | Exclusively | Chess News

New Delhi: English vocabulary sometimes feels at a loss for words while describing what Viswanathan Anand It is to India and its legacy in the game of chess. There is a special kind of stillness that follows the Chennai-born grandmaster into the room, the stillness of a man who solved most of what chess could throw at him decades ago and has nothing left to prove to anyone in it.For over a month now, this stillness has been sitting in a completely different chair. On 24 July 2026, Anand became interim president of the Fédération Internationale de Chess, the world governing body for chess, after Arkady Dvorkovich voluntarily stepped down from his duties under EU and Swiss sanctions. The role is temporary by design as Anand’s term ends with the FIDE presidential elections on September 26.But for the two months he holds it, the man who has spent his life being the most famous player in chess is also, quite literally, running the sport.“To some extent, (it’s) kind of what I was expecting,” the 56-year-old told TimesofIndia.com during an exclusive interaction, with that familiar half-smile doing most of the talking before she completed the next sentences.“It’s more work than being vice president. When I was deputy, I only had to step in when Arkady (Dvorkovich) couldn’t do it. Now, in fact, I have to manage a lot of Union affairs. But I’ve been doing it mostly outside India.”However, the extra weight of countless responsibilities does not mean more mileage.The five-time world champion added: “Actually, I have been traveling less, but because I have already made plans like this. I have been attending many, many meetings, often very long Zoom meetings with a lot of people from all over the world to discuss FIDE matters.”He says the intensity has already peaked and passed.“There was a period last week where it all came to a head,” he revealed. “Now, everything, the agenda, has been prepared for the General Assembly in Samarkand at the end of the year. In the last few days, it has been a little lighter.”However, amid Zoom calls and union work, the 64-square game was called in a more familiar manner.Anand returns to the Global Chess League (GCL) this year with the Alaska Knights. It seems that none of this administrative heaviness succeeded in weakening his appetite for the Board of Directors.“I can tell you that my thirst for the GCL Cup is still there. I would very much like us to achieve that, even though I am playing for the Alaska Knights this year. I am very excited, and I hope I can do my best and get to the final first,” said the Grand Master, who has been one of the faces of the Ganges Grandmasters team for the past three seasons.

Viswanathan Anand at GCL

“It doesn’t matter what you’ve done in your career. If you’re playing this tournament, you’re going to enjoy it, try to play. The GCL is not the type of event, or typical event, that I am used to playing in. It’s truly a new kind of experience. “During those 10 days to two weeks, I really enjoy myself.”It may be a new team this year, but the fundamentals haven’t changed for Anand. “Many players in the GCL have changed teams several times. I think once I go there and meet my teammates, on the first day itself, it will feel natural. I have played with Arjun before; two years ago, he was my teammate. “There are familiar faces, you just have to adapt.”