How five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand forgot a particular variation in Game Two or how the players access their preparations on the chessboard could be the starting paragraph of economics professor Dag Einar Sommervoll's book to be titled either Befriend Your Brain or Make Your Brain Cooperate.
The Norwegian University of Life Sciences professor, who was in Chennai to have a first-hand experience of a world chess championship, spoke to this paper about a variety of subjects including how chess helps to keep the brain active and the importance of tranquility of mind before playing a game.
“If you can't remember anything, then you can't do anything,“ said Sommervoll (49), who added that he not only enjoys chess as a spectator sport, but it also interests him at the professional level.
“Chess is more than a mind sport. It helps you to exercise your brain. It is a great example for memorising, reason ing and attention,” he said.
For the academic, Magnus Carlsen is 10 of diamonds and Anand the six of hearts in a pack of 52 cards. The card digit and sign don’t have any significance, but the method of remembering a card quickly using faces is the point here “The game of 64 squares is a suitable aid for improving one’s memory, as it helps in activating both sides of the brain,” he said.
Having written four student-help books on Mathematics and Economics, Sommervoll is in the process of writing a book on memory. The book will have one chapter on strategic thinking and another on the world chess championship between Anand and Carlsen.
“The book will be directed towards students. You could be 60 years old and still do mental work,” he added.
Talking about the ongoing championship, the professor said that the players should be allowed to concentrate on chess. “It is very important that they are left alone.
Compared to physical sports, tranquility of mind is more important in chess.”
On Anand: I saw him in the hotel gym and did not recognise him first. He was trying to be incognito. But when I checked with him, his answer revealed his identity. But I acted as if I didn’t recognise him, because I didn’t want to disturb him.
On Carlsen: In Norway, we respect the privacy of others. We never approach a famous personality. Carlsen can freely walk in the streets. People will ignore him so that his life becomes easy.
Here in Chennai, I did not try to meet Carlsen, though I spoke to his father Henrik and manager Espen.
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( Source : dc )
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