Viswanathan Anand

"It's going to be important for him to start ducking and weaving and playing different positions."

"As a young kid sprouting a wispy moustache, I was sometimes dismissed by the Russians as an upstart. I have been referred to even as a “coffeehouse player"

"I started at the age of six. My elder brother and sister were dabbling a bit, and then I went to my mother and pestered her to teach me as well."

"When I started out, Indians did not have much interest in chess…Now India seems to spawn new chess academies every day."

"Age is part of it. For instance, I recognise that is going to do certain things because he's 22 and there are certain things I can do because I'm 43."

"I wasn't expecting him to be a gracious, so fair enough. The winner can say anything when he wins... so I guess we will just have to swallow it for now."

"I have what I think is an extremely Indian relationship with God....In Moscow before the tie breaker of the World Championship in May 2012, I again entreated God:Just stay on my side of the board."

"The fact is he outplayed me. He just proved to be stronger."