I'd like to see Indian youngsters compete at the World Championship: Viswanathan Anand

It’s much higher now than when I started. It has grown by leaps and bounds in India over the last 30 to 35 years. And I think, broadly speaking, chess is now accepted as a sport and has quite a lot of fan following… that's a big change from when I was growing up

What has been the impact of The Queen's Gambit on chess in India?

The impact of The Queen’s Gambit has been extremely high. First, because a large audience was confined to their homes in 2020…. they had the time to watch and enjoy the show. Of course, the numbers are just staggering… it has become the platform’s most-watched scripted show ever—both in India and globally. Around 62 million households have watched The Queen’s Gambit in the first 28 days. I am questioned about it by people who don't even normally talk about chess much, so the impact has been huge. 

How have movies and web series based on chess or highlighting it shaped the game’s image in the country? 

Movies and web series have obviously played their part in popularising chess. Different movies have appealed to different audiences. You’ll routinely hear certain kinds of people saying, ‘Have you seen Shatranj Ke Khiladi?’, or some movie about Bobby Fisher and Boris Spassky or one of the many documentaries. So you know each motion picture has played its part, but I think the impact of The Queen's Gambit has been much higher, unlike anything before. 

What makes chess unique and why should it be played more?

Chess is a unique game which cleans your memory, your decision-making ability and your concentration. It can be played and enjoyed by people of any age group… one could start at any point. The pandemic has highlighted how easily accessible it is to play online… therefore, I think people should definitely give it a try. 

How do you assess the future of chess in India?

The potential for chess is huge… the future is what we make of it, but I think we have a lot of strengths to work with and this is one of my ambitions with the WestBridge Anand Chess Academy. I hope to make a difference by taking India's presence at the very top of world chess and increase the number of players there. I would like some of our youngsters to succeed and, you know, fly the flag high at the top, and perhaps even compete at the World Championship. This will have a knock-on effect in terms of popularity. 

What more needs to be done to promote chess among the youth?

A lot more needs to be done by way of actually playing the game. A series of good leagues that give youngsters a chance to play and showcase their skills would be wonderful. There is immense talent in India… it just needs a further push to bring it to the fore.