Noida: Hosted by Barun Das, MD & CEO of TV9 Network, Duologue has become a space where legends across various fields have penetrating, honest, and sometimes surprising discussions. In this episode of ‘Duologue with Barun Das’, Viswanathan Anand discusses the dynamism of chess as a subject that goes beyond the board in shaping critical thinking, resilience, and constant learning in every walk of life.
The legendary player enlightened us about the overlap of professional and personal personas. When asked if he has a different persona on and off the chessboard, Anand pondered that how one plays chess tends to reflect how they are in life.
Citing his own experiences, Anand humorously recalled, “I, for instance, hate losing and my mother would always joke that if I hated losing in chess as much as I hated losing in cards, I would be a much better chess player.”
Looking back at this interesting conversation Barun Das stated, “Viswanathan Anand has demonstrated unparalleled brilliance and consistency over decades. Beyond his titles and victories, he truly exemplifies his visionary approach to the sport’s future. His insights offered a remarkable blend of wisdom, humility, and forward-looking optimism regarding chess, AI and life in general. In chess the ultimate goal is to checkmate the opponent, where they have no more moves. On the other hand, this duologue with the chess maestro transcends the board, sparking deeper conversations and new perspectives, igniting a continuous flow of ideas and reflections.”
Sharing his experience on ‘Duologue’ with Barun Das, five times World Champion said, “I think it was an excellent conversation in the ‘Duologue with Barun Das’. We explored a lot of different topics and as befits such a conversation one goes back with more questions and answers like the ones I have for you. We spoke about AI. How could we not? But we also managed to speak about acting skills. So, perhaps you will enjoy those stories. It is a very positive attitude to stay on the right side of 50 I would recommend it, but I would again want to be a teenager. I think he had done a lot of research. So, it wasn’t just the familiarity you would expect him to have. He actually drilled down into my book and managed to pick out moments that are significant to me.”
Discussing India’s growing prominence in chess, Anand expressed confidence in the country’s ascent to becoming a chess superpower. With several Indian players now being ranked among the world’s top players, Anand believes that the camaraderie and competition among them is a source of further success.
Regarding chess being accepted as an Olympic sport, Anand concurred that participation in the Olympics would lend prestige to the game. He hopes that chess might find a place at least in the Esports Olympics, opening the door to further acceptance.
Citing that prize money for chess is much less compared to sports such as golf and tennis, Anand pointed towards the consistent rise of the game, especially for women’s chess, whose prize funds have risen.
Anand differentiated between traditional computing and modern AI-driven approaches. He acknowledged that computers have outperformed human players for over 25 years and that AI-driven neural networks have further advanced the game. Rather than resisting this evolution, Anand believes that chess players must adapt by learning to ask the right questions rather than seeking definitive answers.
He also touched upon the Nikhil Kamath controversy, where AI-assisted gameplay led to unfair advantages. “Maybe from his point of view, it was just a prank and for me it was a charity event. I mean it is what it is, but it would have been better, had it not happened,” he said.
The penultimate episode of Season Three of Duologue with Barun Das stays true to its tradition of delivering powerful discourse. Tune in to News9 on March 15, 2025, at 10 PM for this engaging clash of minds.
-Based on Press Release
