Vladimir Kramnik has been a purist's delight for his brand of chess and 'big Vlad' as he is known in chess circles will always find a name in history as the player to dethrone the highest ever rated player on this planet, Garry Kasparov in 2000. Since then he defended his title successfully twice against Peter Leko and Veselin Topalov before losing it to Anand in 2008.

Mind over matter: Vladimir Kramnik

Even as the chess world is baffled by the voluntary help offered to Anand by Kramnik for this 2010 World Championship match Kramnik in an exclusive chat with MiD DAY from his home in Paris, offers his reasons for doing so.

Your views on the match
I have to say that it was a very interesting match and I thoroughly enjoyed watching it. However I must admit that it was just not limited to watching alone but I got actively involved too. It was a tense and good fight.

You were watching the first three games. What made you get involved after that?
I was playing the President's Cup in Baku around that time and also following this Match. Vishy decided to use my strategy, though not completely, from Elista 2006 where I had played Veselin Topalov.

I thought Vishy liked the way I played and I thought he has some trust in me to use the same Openings, the Catalan with White and the Slav defence with Black. And then he was also using his own ideas.

I had publicly accepted and acknowledged Vishy as a favourite before the match and was rooting for him.
After the third game, which incidentally was the Elista ending, I got in touch with Frederic Friedel (owner of chess software giant ChessBase) and suggested some ideas of my own.

He suggested why don't I speak directly to Vishy and since he had a game, I waited for a couple of days and contacted him directly after the fourth game and thereafter we were chatting regularly and I was actively involved.

Was there any particular reason?
I share a good personal equation with Vishy and I think that as a person he is very honourable. The World Champion is seen as the representative of the world of chess and it is imperative that he be strong, chess wise and also in conduct.

I genuinely think Vishy is a better chess player and would represent the chess world in a better way than his opponent. Topalov is strong but not on the same level as Vishy chess wise. Therefore, I saw no reason not to help.