Of Karpov's critical remark and Anand's rise

Anatoly Karpov once critically remarked that Viswanathan Anand "doesn't have the character" to win big games. The observation "hit a raw nerve", says the Indian, who has since become a name as big as the Russian in chess world.

"Ah, well Vishy's a nice guy but he just doesn't have the character for a big win," was what Karpov had said about Anand after beating him in the final of the 1998 world championship.

Anand recalled the remark in his newly-released autography -- 'Mind Master - Winning Lessons from a Champion's Life'.

It was made to a journalist by Karpov, while Anand and his wife sat at the adjacent table, after the final.

"His words hit a raw nerve. It was a decidedly unpleasant feeling to be seen as a good player who lacked the conviction to win big," Anand writes in his book.

"I was working myself up to display my potential and this swipe only reinforced the conviction I already had deep within - nothing else mattered anymore, I just had to win a title now."

In 1998, after .