Anand’s Immortal

There is a scene in Monty Python and the Holy Grail where Sir Lancelot’s servant, Patsy, is shot in the back by an arrow and seems to expire. As Lancelot ( John Cleese) brusquely proceeds on his mission, Patsy (Eric Idle) protests that contrary to appearances he is not dead yet. The world champion Vishy Anand has put me in mind of this. He defended his title last year, but his performance was fairly lacklustre, and he has generally seemed uninspired in his tournament games. His loss to the up-and-coming star Magnus Carlsen towards the end of last year more or less confirmed Anand as a write-off, a roi fainéant, keeping the throne warm for his next challenger. Then, at the Tata Steel tournament in Wijk aan Zee, Holland, last week, Anand played a game of such brilliance against Aronian that any suggestion that he is due to yield the world title must be dismissed as wildly premature.