Anand interview in Der Spiegel

German magazine Der Spiegel is Europe's largest and one of the most influential weekly magazines with a circulation of more than one million per week. This week's edition has an interview with Viswanathan Anand.

It's a rare thing that a chess player gets such big coverage in mainstream media, and actually during the last weeks before a world championship match chess media normally don't get to speak to the two players either.

Frederic Friedel, editor of the English Chessbase website, translated this week's Der Spiegel interview with current world champion Viswanathan Anand.

(...)

SPIEGEL: How did you prepare for the World Championship?

Anand: I have been studying Kramnik since the end of April, up to ten hours a day, here at home in my cellar, where I have my office. I have a database and construct game plans. I try to neutralise positions in which Kramnik is strong. He is doing the same thing with my game, which I must of course take into consideration. Let me put it this way: I must remember that he is thinking about what I am thinking about him. In any case one is working for months with the computer, trying to find new paths.

(...)

SPIEGEL: What is the role of emotions?

Anand: They are decisive. The moment in which you realise that you have made a mistake is the most unsettling you can imagine. You have to try to keep control of your emotions. Chess is a form of acting. If your opponent senses your insecurity or your annoyance or your dejection, then you are bolstering his courage. He will take advantage of your weakness. Confidence is very important ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú even pretending to be confident. If you make a mistake but do not let your opponent see what you are thinking then he may overlook the mistake.

(...)

You can read the whole interview here or the original (in German) here.