Anand won't be able to recapture world crown: Short

Renowned English Grand Master Nigel Short Monday prophesied that India's Viswanathan Anand, who lost the world championship title last year, would not be able to recapture the honours as top class chess was a "young man's game".

Anand,a five time world champion, had gone down to Norway's Magnus Carlsen in the title duel last November.

Describing Anand as one of the greatest chess players, Short said: "I don't' think it is possible for him to win the world chess title again."

Replying to a query as whether the Anand era in chess has come to an end, Short said: "His defeat to Carlsen was very severe and damaging for Anand's career".

He said Anand, now 44, was no more young. "On the other hand, chess is a young man's game. It is very difficult to withstand games that continue for five to six hours when you are no more young."

Short predicted that Carlsen has it in him to reign in world chess for some years, but cautioned that he has to keep away from distractions.

Asked whether he saw some other Indian becoming the world champion soon, Short replied in the negative, but said the country has good upcoming talents.

Short is here to play the sixth Kolkata Open Grandmasters Chess Tournament starting Tuesday. The Englishman is the top seed.