Retaining World crown is Anand's goal

World chess champion Vishwanathan Anand has his sights firmly fixed on the World crown, which he hopes to retain at the championship coming up in November, in Moscow.

"I would like to retain the World championship. That's a very important goal. It's big challenge to do it twice in a row. But I am going there with all guns (booming)," said Anand, on Saturday, adding he is expecting a tough challenge.

Noting that around 120 of the best players in the world will be participating in the championship, Anand said any of the top ten could win it.

"It's quite unpredictable."

The 31-year-old said he plans to start a chess academy after he retires from professional chess.

"Yes that will be much later. It [the academy] is not something you can combine with your career. I should give it 100 per cent. You can't turn up on a Sunday and give a few lessons. It's not healthy," he said.

Anand said he will play top level chess for at least five years more and "have a relook" and see whether he "still likes and enjoys playing the game".