Yes, I can't see a better challenger than Anand in match play. Sad to say really, as I'd like to see a new challenger give Carlsen a run for his money. Still hopeful for Wesley So, but it looks a long shot. I'm still backing Wei Yi for next world champion, but probably not for a year or two.
Anand number 2 in live rankings
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I like Anand but I don't want to see him play carlsen for the WCC again. He's a great player but I think Carlsen has Anand figured out and he isn't capable of beating Carlsen in a title match IMO. That being said I don't think anybody is capable at the moment, we are in the Carlsen era and I don't see him giving up that title anytime soon.
Anand is a great player. He is an x-World Champion and has been in the top ten for how long?
The problems that hang around Anand is not that he can't play great chess. It's that he is sandwiched between two great players who litterally kept the crown from Anand, or took it away from him. Those names are Kasparov and Carlsen.
Anand could not best Kasparov, this is a shadow he can never run from. He was not better than him in over all tournaments during their era, and he could not take the title from him. As a matter of fact, Anand did not even win the title until after Kasparov retired from chess.
Then comes Carlsen. Yes, he is half Anands age, but Carlsen not only took the title from Anand handidly, he defended it against him as well. Now Anand is #2 in the ratings, and he has come in second place in the Gushamov 2015 memorial. Who came in frist place, and is the current world rated #1 player? Carlsen, the current world champion.
I make this sound bad, let me say that I would love to be as strong as Anand in chess. He is a good man from all accounts, and a good world champion. But being #2 does not make you #1. If anything this only shows how weak all the other players are compared to Carlsen.
Think about it. If the only other player in the top 10 to currently be rated #2, and to have been World Champion, and to have a sort of rematch for the title, ableit lost, is 45 years old...Then either the remainder of the top ten not named Carlsen are not that good, or Carlsen is so much better then all of them, that all the other top ten players can do is fight for #2.
Think about this again. You have created a forum titled "Anand number 2 in live ratings". So the only way to celebrate anyone not named Carlsen is to create a thread espousing the success of being #2.
Anand is a great player, so are all the top 10 players, but when we have to celebrate 2nd place as being something great, we need to step back and realize that what we are also saying is that the player rated #1 in the world is that much better than everybody else.
I agree with you kreg, everyone is a long way behind Carlsen at the moment. I also don't want to see a Carlsen-Anand rematch for the world championship; I'd rather see someone new, even if they are likely to lose also. I wasn't celebrating it as something great, so much as an achievement by Anand to still be so highly rated. Also it is probably news to some of the many people on here who consistently write him off despite his recent excellent performances.
Interesting to see Anand back at number 2 in live rankings. Deserved I think, given his performances against Carlsen compared to many others. He is still very solid, and also dangerous when he gets a sniff of a chance to win. Rumours of his failing abilities seem to be somewhat exaggerated. Notably, no-one on here seems to give him a chance before top tournaments, though time after time he proves them wrong. Hats off to him I say.