Madurai (Tamil Nadu): Five-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand has said that in an era increasingly dominated by computer-assisted preparation, deep understanding of the game remains the ultimate differentiator in modern chess.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of a three-day chess workshop in Madurai, Anand observed that access to vast amounts of information does not automatically translate into mastery. “Interestingly, the more knowledge you are given, the less you truly understand. If you receive 20–30 new conclusions every day, how do you internalize them? I believe the only thing that separates today’s chess players is deep understanding,” he remarked.
Reflecting on his early experiences of using computers for preparation, the Grandmaster explained that while being open to new ideas is important, it is the ability to grasp nuances that elevates a player to the next level. He emphasized that memorization alone cannot lead to excellence in contemporary chess.
Anand further clarified that mastery in chess is rooted in pattern recognition rather than rote learning. “Our minds create patterns far beyond our conscious awareness. Weeks after watching someone’s game, new ideas often emerge in a player’s mind. They may not even realize they are drawing inspiration from something they saw earlier,” he said.
His remarks highlight the evolving nature of the sport, where technology plays a central role, but human intuition and conceptual clarity continue to define true greatness on the chessboard.
