Emotion, errors and an education: Chess legend V. Anand recalls his first time

The first time can be a trying time. The first time in the biggest final - Wimbledon, the Olympic 100m - can carry the scent of intimidation.

- Rohit Brijnath

And so the first time he is understandably "a bundle of emotions" because no one from his nation has come so far before. He's the first Indian on this particular moon. "Part of you feels well prepared," grandmaster V. Anand tells The Straits Times. "Part feels like everything will go wrong. You don't know really what you feel."

This first time in a world chess championship final for Anand was 29 years ago in New York where his rival, the great Garry Kasparov, was slamming doors to "get under my skin". Anand, beloved in his nation, stayed quiet. Too polite, you understand.

Later he would win five world chess championships and ignite a revolution no other athlete has ever done in any sport in India. He was India's first grandmaster, now there are over 80. When Gukesh Dommaraju qualified to be the challenger for the world chess championship being held in Singapore, a fellow tweeted: "The 'children' of Vishy Anand are on the loose!" The author of the tweet was Kasparov.

It is Gukesh's first time in a championship final and Anand, a gentleman of polished intelligence, is being asked to rewind to 1995. Now he is 54, then 25. It feels young, except the remarkable Gukesh is a teenager. "He's playing the world championships at 18," says an incredulous Anand. "That's a historic thing. It's never been done at such an age."