On the eve of his 40th birthday, the first chess player to become world champion in all three formats of the game, Indian ace Viswanathan Anand has just one wish -- to see his sport become an Olympic event.

"Obviously that would be for the (World Chess Federation) FIDE and the International Olympic Committee to decide. Personally, it would be nice to have chess in the Olympics." Anand -- a world champion in Knockout, Tournament, and Match formats.

Anand doesn't foresee chess coming anywhere close to cricket in terms of popularity and is happy with whatever attention it gets in a nation obsessed with bat and ball.
"I can't complain... I am happy with the attention chess gets and the exposure I get," he said.

Giving an insight into his approach to the game, Anand said his best games are the ones he has played with child-like enthusiasm.

"I think when you start counting all your achievements you will soon not have much more to count. I try to focus on the immediate challenge. In a way I play best when I am like the six-year-old Anand just wanting to beat the opponent," Anand said.

"Having won the World Championships in all formats gives me confidence but somehow you feel as good as your last result. Chess in the last five years has been very competitive. You have to win the game to feel good,"

Happy with the progress made by Indian youngsters in international circuit, Anand said the new breed of chess players have it in them to become the world's best.

Gearing up for the World Championship match against Veselin Topalov next year, Anand said he expects the April-May match to be tough given Topalov's versatility.

"Clearly my focus is the match next April. I will play at Corus in January but already training for the match is what I have been doing. Topalov is a very versatile and dangerous player.

"He will be very well-prepared and I think for now we are both training for each other," said the Grandmaster.
Having spent almost three decades on the international circuit, Anand does not deny the possibility of cheating in chess but said there is mutual trust among players.
"In chess, the only form of cheating that can unsettle the balance is electronic doping, the use of computers or devices. Already since 2005 most top level events have monitoring devices to prevent the use of cell phones and computers.

"Among the top players there is a code of conduct where you trust that a player will not cheat and will play a honourable game," he said.

Let us all from chess.com Wish him a very HAPPY B'DAY :)

Wish U Many Many HAPPY RETURNS OF THE DAY!!!

*sings*:

We Vishy you a merry xmas anand happy new year!

that was very creative 'rooperi'. He'l surely luv it!

May God Bless Vishvanathan Anand !!!

Thanks for the post!

Merry Christmas and happy New Year Vishy..........:-)

What Vishy said on his 40th B'day..... "damn! this cake has a lot of candles!"