GM Nigel Short assessed Anand's win as "an incredible comeback". "He played very well and thoroughly deserved his victory," The Times of India
Short spoke of Anand's chances against Carlsen:
"I think he will do a lot better in the rematch. I'm not going to say he will win but I think he will play more aggressively and in a less constrained manner. He looked like somebody who was afraid of losing the world title but now that he has lost it, I think his chess will have aggressive freedom.
Maybe the world title was too heavy a burden on him. Probably he was suffering from fear of defeat for a long time and this has been constraining his chess. Instead of trying to win, he was trying to hold on to what he has. That is normally a dangerous thing to do.
I think it will be a closer match. I will say Carlsen will still win but I think it will be a much more exciting contest."