Sneerers would sneer, scoffers would scoff, carpers would carp, but in the indisputable words of the dude, “Yeah, well, you know, that’s just like, their opinion man.” You are one of the greatest chess players of all times. No ifs or buts.
We grew up watching reading about your games. In an environment devoid of TV and in the time when Internet was not as ubiquitous as now, we stole a piece of slab of marble, painted the squares, carved the pieces out of wood, stone and metal, and each game of the famous “PCA World Chess Championship 1995” was studied and analyzed by boys who were yet to achieve puberty or/and kiss a girl. You were our hero.
Nf1?
Someone once said that growing up merely means watching your heroes turn to human right before your eyes. That happened last night in the game 9 of your match with Carlsen. With two points down, we believed you would make a comeback. Some of us, we still do. But what do we know eh?
At the end of the day, the king and pawn go back into the same box.
By the time, I publish this; you may no longer be the champion. I had cried tears of joy when you subdued Kramnik, I had them when you lost to Carlsen the other day. And I thank you for inspiring us with your play, your character, your tenacity, your wisdom and above all your fighting spirit. I would not say that you came up against all odds but you inspired the Indian middle class like no other Indian. And for the chess world you were the sole warrior against the Russian troika of Kasparov, Karpov and Kramnik. You did well, you did good, you may still eek your way out, or perhaps a new champion will be crowned tonight but at the end of the day, the king and pawn go back into the same box.
And three words to soothe this weepy fan of yours, ‘Life goes on’.