Four-time women's world chess champion Susan Polgar of Hungary feels Viswanathan Anand can perhaps add another strategist rather than making wholesome changes to his A-team — his seconds — for his World Chess Championship match against defending champion Magnus Carlsen later this year.
Susan, also a winner of five Chess Olympiads, said in an interview that Anand need not change his entire team of seconds, who help champion players prepare for the world title, who had worked with him when he lost the World Championship last year here against Carlsen.
"He had a good team. Maybe, just a few small changes, or perhaps adding another strategist," she said.
Anand's team during last year's failed title defence were compatriots Sandipan Chanda, K Sasikiran, Hungarian Grandmaster Peter Leko and Poland's Radoslaw Wojtaszek. Susan, the eldest of the famed Polgar sisters, said good seconds can make a big difference as they help in opening preparation and also provide mental support.
"Good seconds can make a big difference since the players have little time to do the analyses and preparation on their own," she said.