NAND PECIAL DECCAN CHRONICLE A S CHENNAI MONDAY 1 OCTOBER 2007 19 IN BLACK AND WHITE Hero’s welcome for chess champ too? New Delhi, Sept. 30: After his majes- KING OF THE tic feat of two World Chess Championship titles, Viswanathan Anand is now eager to see whether his countrymen would give him the same grand reception that they had extended to Twenty20 World Cup winning crick- eters. After ending his seven-year wait Anand does to reclaim the world title with an unde- feated run in the Mexico City on Saturday, Anand said he came to know about the grand welcome that the cricketers had been given and was sure it in style that at least his chess friends would be there to receive him. (PTI) Mexico City, Sept. 30: superior level throughout India’s Viswanathan Anand the 17-day tournament but IN A NUTSHELL was crowned world champi- came close to defeat on ● Born on Dec. 11, 1969 in Chennai on of chess on Saturday as Friday. He managed to ● he won the marathon tour- draw his five-hour, 73- 1983 National Sub-Junior Chess Champion at the age of 14 nament here that brought move game with another ● together eight of the game’s Russian, Alexander 1984 International Master ● 1985 Indian National Champion best players. Anand, 37, Grischuk. He would have ● replaced Vladimir Kramnik won the tournament imme- 1987 World Junior Champion ● 1988 Grandmaster of Russia as champion, win- diately if he had beaten ● ning the tournament on Grischuk, who has been 2000 Fide World Champion ● 2003 Fide World Rapid Champion points after tying a match focusing on a poker career. ● with Hungarian Peter Leko The Indian, who learned 2007 Fide World Chess Champion on the 14th day of the con- to play chess at the age of test, which he dominated six, had previously won the from the start. Anand never world championship in AWARDS lost a game in the champi- 2000, but the achievement onship. was valued less since at the ■ 1985 Arjuna Award, “I enjoy this new feeling time the chess world was ■ 1987 Soviet Land Nehru Award of being world champion,” split between two rival ■ 1987 Padma Shri he said. “I had a couple of world titles. ■ 1987 National Citizens Award difficult games, nothing too Anand said both victories ■ 1991-92 Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna worrying for this kind of were equally sweet. “For Award tournament,” said Anand, me it is not different or more ■ 1995 K K Birla Award who was ranked world important than the 2000 ■ Four chess Oscar awards 1997, FOCUS: Viswanathan Anand in action against Hungarian Peter Leko during the final round of the World Chess Championship 1998, 2003, 2004. number one going into the title, for me they are both in Mexico City on Saturday. Anand drew the game to win the world title for the second time in his career. (AFP) tournament. lovely memories,” he said. ■ 1995 Padma Bhushan “I am just very happy with “It is as if he had a com- my game, we had a good puter in his head,” said his team, I felt very well, my spouse, Aruna Anand. “He second (coach) helped me has a brain that works with a lot of interesting faster.” (AFP) ideas, everything clicked.” FINAL STANDINGS Vishy revolutionised chess in India Kramnik, who saw the 1. Anand (9 pts) championship slip from his 2. Kramnik, Gelfand (8 pts) By T.N. RAGHU cap to the limit a human mind Anand’s expertise in shorter offered an ideal opportunity to of his career. gasp on Friday after a tie, 4. Leko (7 pts) can foray into. Like the name of versions of the game is well doc- prove his class without the dis- Finally, the analysis of finished in second followed 5. Svidler (6.5 pts) Chennai, Sept. 30: India are on a photocopying machine, Xerox, umented. But there were doubts traction of a rival faction propos- Anand’s other side. Nice people by Israeli Boris Gelfand. 6. Morozevich, Aronian (6) a roll in the world of sports. had become a term to denote lingering on the minds of a few ing a separate bout for heavy- don’t always come last. As a Anand played at a clearly 8. Grischuk (5.5 pts) Nehru Cup win in football, Asia that process in this country, about his mastery in classical weights. professional on the chess circuit Cup triumph in hockey, Anand and chess are also syn- chess. India’s first Grandmaster There are some who take a bit and a gentleman outside, Anand Twenty20 conquest in cricket, onymous. dispelled those doubters with his of sheen off Anand’s achieve- has an impeccable track record. Pankaj Advani’s world billiards India hasn’t had a singular icon ment by pointing out that the big Rarely has the Indian gone on QUOTE STAND title and Anand’s world chess like the Chennai star in any K, Garry Kasparov, had retired an ego trip, which is a routine crown have turned 2007 a land- game. In terms of mass partici- FOCUS from the game. Yes, it would for superstars in any sports, in “World Championship is some- mark year for Indian sports. The pation in competitive events, have tasted sweeter if the his peripatetic three-decade thing special in chess. The quality man of the moment, undoubted- chess has come a long way in world title in Mexico City on Mexico event had the charismat- career. Smiling and affable, the of the tournament was high and ly, is Viswanathan Anand. the last 20 years. And one does- Saturday. He is the best in the ic Russian in the mix. But World No. 1 keeps his compo- I’m happy that Anand won con- Chess is not football at the n’t have to look beyond Anand business now. Full stop. That he Anand can only beat an oppo- sure irrespective of the results. vincingly. He was well prepared global level or cricket in this for the reason. Through his con- was able to clinch his second nent sitting across the table. The The game of kings and queens and he was also in great form. We country for its ability to capti- sistent excellence over the years, world title without losing a game fact that Kasparov desperately has notoriety for palace intrigue all have to learn from Anand on vate the masses. Anand may not Anand has popularised the sport doesn’t mean that his opponents wanted to carry an air of invinci- but Anand never got his image how he keeps himself motivated after playing be playing a macho sport but he any advertisement blitzkrieg or were weak. Anand’s preparations bility into his retirement meant sullied by petty politicking. He chess for so many years” is into a game that can be as tir- organised campaigning could were spot on because he wanted he wouldn’t anyway have faced always plays his game fair and Krishnan Sasikiran, GM ing as any. No scientist has put a ever hope to achieve. to do it again. The Mexico event a strong opponent in the twilight square. “We are all delighted. There is no breakaway world championship now. It’s doubly sweet as Anand is the undisputed champion of ‘Vishy is India’s gift’ the world. I think the key was his ‘Son’shine moment for them attacking play with black pieces. was Anand who was While Gelfand and Kramnik By T.N. RAGHU were happy that he finished the job always winning after played safe with black, Anand was positive with without losing. I would say his World 1985. the less advantageous pieces. Anand’s win will Chennai, Sept. 30: In stark contrast to title in 2000 was more special. First Anand used to play bring more respect for Indian players abroad. the events following India’s Twenty20 win always has its charm.” chess non-stop at the Tal We have been winning age group titles regular- triumph, there is no media scrum out- Were they confident of the title Academy. He started ly, but senior crown is something different. More side newly crowned world chess before the tournament? “We don’t nor- beating seasoned players youngsters will take up the game after Anand’s champion Viswanathan Anand’s mally worry about how he is going to with ease. latest achievement” Besant Nagar home here. Anand’s par- play in a particular event. It’s all down Chennai, Sept. 30: Now he has lightening R.B. Ramesh, GM ents K. Viswanathan and Sushila still to him. He only goes and plays. Apart International Master T.S. speed and immaculate enjoy the tranquil atmosphere their from being dedicated and determined, Ravi is Anand’s contem- analytical ability. His “It’s celebration time for us. It is the best residential area renowned to afford. Anand works really hard on his game. porary. They had played involvement in the game is achievement for Anand and India. Anand has Yes, they are busy from the morning, I think the secret of Anand’s success is against each other as total. He has absolutely no kick started another chess wave in the country” answering a stream of congratulatory his love for chess. When Anand start- youngsters. Ravi throws distraction. I think his Ebenezer Joseph, India’s only Fide trainer phone calls from all parts of India as ed playing, we never thought he would light on what made his focus has taken him to the well as the world. Though TV and go on to become a world champion.