Magnus Carlsen praises Viswanathan Anand: A look back at their intense training camp in 2008

Former world champion Magnus Carlsen has shared a fascinating anecdote about training with five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand in 2008, revealing how Anand’s dominance during their training camp gave him a reality check.

In a recent interview on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Carlsen recalled the intense training camp he had with Anand in Spain as the Indian chess legend prepared for his World Championship title match against Vladimir Kramnik. Carlsen admitted that Anand’s superior skills and deep understanding of the game made him realize that he had been overestimating his own abilities.

Describing the experience, Carlsen said, “As soon as that training camp started, he was so focused. We played a bunch of training games, and from being this guy who seemed completely disinterested in that tournament, suddenly, he was crushing me. He had a massive plus score in our games. It felt like everything we analysed, he just had a much deeper understanding of the game.”

Carlsen went on to acknowledge that the training camp served as a reality check for him, helping him to better understand the game and improve his skills. He admitted that he had been “delusional” about his abilities and that the experience with Anand made him realize the level of expertise required to excel in chess.

Anand eventually went on to win the 2008 World Chess Championship, solidifying his status as one of the greatest players in chess history. Carlsen, who learned valuable lessons from training with Anand, would go on to become the world champion in 2013 by defeating Anand.

The story of Carlsen’s training camp with Anand serves as a reminder of the importance of humility and continuous learning in the pursuit of excellence in any field.