Peter Leko in Vladimir Kramnik’s team

The psychological warfare has begun and that too without even a single move made on the chessboard! Vladimir Kramnik, the challenger to defending champion Viswanathan Anand has fired the first salvo even as the World Chess Championship is scheduled to kick off in Bonn, Germany on the 14th of this month.

Kramnik made an open declaration of his team on Saturday night, which included Hungarian GM Peter Leko. The aim obviously was to rattle Anand who has worked closely with Leko before and whom Anand has always considered as one of his friends. Ironically, it was Leko against whom Kramnik had retained the Classical World title (non FIDE) in 2004, so it is now a classic case of ‘foes turned friends’. But then sport is all about professionalism these days.

Tendulkar misses record as India draw Test

The players often maintain a distance from media a few days before the start of any event and Kramnik coming out into the open is a big surprise for everyone. The team of the contestants has traditionally been a most guarded secret, unveiled almost on the day of the first game when it can no longer be hidden. The composition of the team gives some idea as to the direction of the preparation, mostly in terms of Openings and quite clearly Kramnik is using subtle psychology in an effort to disturb Anand mentally. This has happened in World championship matches before and is not a novelty. The possibility of a reverse effect cannot be ruled out as Anand is also familiar with Leko’s strengths and might just out-think Kramnik. Also the Indian maestro might well have anticipated this move as Kramnik and Leko share a common Manager in Hensel Carsten.

Kramnik’s other team mates in Bonn are Russian GM Sergey Rublevsky and French GM Laurent Fressinet, while he has worked with his Russian regulars, Evgeny Bareev and others back home.

Full coverage: Australia in India | More cricket news

Anand meanwhile had maintained secrecy pertaining to his team, though rumours did surface that teenage sensation 17-year-old Magnus Carlsen of Norway might well be working with Anand for this event. Anand has neither denied nor acknowledged this rumour, keeping Kramnik guessing. However once in Bonn, Anand’s team is with him and comprises of former FIDE knock-out World Champion Rustam Kasimdzhanov of Uzbekistan, reigning Indian National champion Surya Shekhar Ganguly, Peter Heine Nielsen who has been working with Anand for the last couple of years and a surprise in the form of 21 year-old Polish youngster Wojtaszek Radoslav, a former World under-18 champion.

Terrorists wouldn't target Aussies in Pak: Imran Khan

Anand’s wife Aruna , who also doubles as his manager, refused to comment on Leko when contacted, saying, “I can’t really comment as it is tricky and gives away a lot.”

Anand has also time and again made it clear that he would rather let Chess do his talking and not indulge in any off-board games.