Vishy Anand not ready to retire from chess yet

Viswanathan Anand has endured a tough 2017.

The five-time world champion started the season with an eighth place finish at the Norway Chess Open. After finishing Zurich Chess tournament in third, Anand lost to Wesley So in the final of Leon Chess.

In July, Anand finished eighth at the Leuven tournament where Magnus Carlsen won . Following the event Anand told the official broadcasters, “I think I shouldn’t bother playing like this. There’s no point playing chess like this.”

Anand’s statement resulted in speculations that he was mulling retirement. However, he has clarified that he has no plans to retire. “It turned out to be a bad way to phrase the sentence. I was angry with myself for the performance I put in. I have clarified 100 times that I am not retiring. The words were basically meant as self-criticism for my performance at Leuven,” Anand said.

Barring his performance in Zurich and Leon, Anand has lacked consistency. But the fivetime world champion said he was not too worried .

“In 2015, I had a rough patch for close to six months. I have not had a good result for a couple of months this year but there is nothing to worry about,” he said.

Anand’s next major assignment will be the tournament in St

I was basically angry with myself for the performance I put in. I have clarified 100 times that I am not retiring. The words were basically meant as selfcriticism. ANAND, On his words interpreted as hints about retirement

Louis, followed by the crucial Chess World Cup in Georgia in September. These two tournaments hold utmost importance as he aims to get back into reckoning for the World Championship.

“The work you put in at one tournament will reflect in the other. I must perform well in St Louis. I still have time for World Cup. I must do well there if I have to qualify. The World Cup gives me opportunities to bounce back as there will be a lot of matches,” Anand said.