Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri says India have big chess talent pool, need time to grow

Kolkata: Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri on Monday said India have a talented bunch of youngsters who need time to bridge the big gap with the legendary Viswanathan Anand. The five-time world champion, who will turn 50 next month, remains the best bet among the Indians with a world ranking of 11. “I don’t think there’s a big gap. Harikrishna is very strong, while Vidit Gujrathi is also a top player,” Anish said on the sidelines of Tata Chess 2019 in the Grand Chess Tour. “The young generation of talents who are just 13-14 year-old are too young to make a breakthrough. I think you just need to give them some time,” he said, referring to the two youngsters, Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa and Nihal Sarin. [caption id=“attachment_6012781” align=“alignnone” width=“825”] Anish Giri at Tata Steel Chess 2019. Image Courtesy: Alina L’ami[/caption] The 25-year-old halted the Magnus Carlsen express, holding the reigning world champion with Herculean defensive technique in round two of the Blitz on Monday. Terming it an ordinary and dull show, he said: “I did not prepare much for the blitz. I just played something I already knew. It was not a highlight or low light. It was an ordinary game. There were many more games that I was on the lucky side or on the unlucky side. It was a pretty dull game actually.” Anish, who won the Shenzhen Masters this year, said he’s keen on putting a good show at the 2020 Candidates in Yekaterinburg, Russia from 15 March to 5 April. “Right now I am not completely thinking about anything. I’m thrilled to make it to Candidates. I have a lot of plans and have to work very hard. If things go my way there are some hopes,” he said.