Jubilant fans welcome Viswanathan Anand back home
Posted on: 02 Jun 2012, 10:50 PM
Chennai: World chess champion Viswanathan Anand on Saturday received a rousing welcome by his fans, who lined-up in good numbers to greet him, as the chess wizard returned home after winning his fifth world title.
Anand defeated Israeli challenger Boris Gelfand in rapid tie-break in Moscow to defend his world championship title.
The fans thronged the international airport to greet Anand, who is now a world champion since 2007. Anand and his wife Aruna’s parents were also there, apart from several chess players.
The government and the chess Federation officials also came to airport for the .
Additional secretary Rajkumar and member secretary, Sports Vijay Kumar received Anand on behalf of the state government.
“I am very happy that so many people have come here to greet me and honour me,” Anand after arriving here from Moscow.
“I express my grateful thanks to madam (CM) Jayalalitha. They recognised my victory for a cash award of Rs 2 crore. I am happy that chess has been introduced in the schools. I am sure, more champions will grow now.
“I have sought a meeting with the CM and hopefully it will happen soon,” he said.
All India Chess Federation (AICF) president JCD Prabhakar and secretary general Bharat Singh and FIDE vice president DV Sundar were also there to receive Anand.
Source: http://post.jagran.com
I think the reason Anand sought a meeting with chief minister jayalalita is to persuade her to sponsor and conduct the next world chess championship in Chennai, India. Hope this happens as it has been a debate and people expect Anand to do something about it.
The 2012 match was to be held in chennai. It does not take much to put the extra $30000 which moscow bid. But to be fair to Gelfand, Anand agreed for moscow. Always a gentleman.
I find Anand’s achievement impressive. But the 20 million rupees he received could surely have been put to better use.
I agree with Knallo. Anand could have played better and given a better show, to earn his $1.5 MILLION.
Who said this duel was n’t goood!
See Anand Music therapy below:
When Israeli challenger Boris Gelfand struck a ‘heavy blow’ to Viswanathan Anand’s defence of the world title by winning Game No.7, the Indian grandmaster returned to his hotel located near the Red Square and switched off from the game. He did not brood about the loss. Rather, he tuned into the British sitcom Fawlty Towers.
“On the day I lost, I watched Fawlty Towers because you want to laugh your head off,” Anand told The Sunday Express hours before travelling from Moscow to his hometown Chennai.
On other evenings after the game, the World champion watched episodes of British comedy Yes Minister and reality show Only Fools on Horses, which involves celebrities trying their hand at equestrian events. “To unwind in the evenings I would watch a mix of Yes Minister, Only Fools on Horses,” the world champion said. His wife Aruna was around to ensure that Anand remained in the right frame of mind irrespective of the outcome of the day’s duel.
When the games turned intense, 42-year-old Anand, while waiting at the backstage, would hum Jamaican reggae artist Sean Paul’s catchy number ‘She Doesn’t Mind’ till Gelfand completed his move. This song was played often when Anand’s entourage reviewed the day’s proceedings once back at the hotel.
For Anand laughter proved to be the best medicine as his decision to watch British comedy after the loss in Game 7 lightened his mood and put him at ease with just five games remaining to catch-up. Anand responded by winning Game No.8 and went on to eventually defend his title in the tie-breaker last week. It was during one of his backstage reggae-crooning breaks that Anand spotted Gelfand make a big mistake in Game 8.
“Game 8 went beautifully. I assumed Boris (Gelfand) was trying to double his lead rather than sit on it. He was very motivated but something clearly went wrong. (Anand set a trap for Gelfand which entailed Gelfand making a blunder of playing Queen to f6). And then I went backstage. I was waiting for my move. I had seen Queen f6 but I was telling myself that is too naive to expect it to happen and then I suddenly saw him make a move from the back of the board. I looked up saw it was Qf6. I thought ‘oh god!’ I came back, checked it for a few minutes and then just went for it. He thought for a while and resigned,” Anand said while looking back at his campaign, which he described as the toughest encounter of his five titles.
While he was considered the favourite going into the Championship, Anand disagreed. “I never saw myself as a favourite. There were a lot of people who kept saying I was favourite but they simply missed the plot. I expected a tough, nerve-wracking match, and I got a tough, nerve-wracking match. It would have been insane to underestimate Boris and I don’t think I would have done that. But I didn’t come here clearly with high expectations. I came here as someone who expected to fight for his life.”TheisRB
Who said this duel was n’t goood!
See Anand Music therapy below:
When Israeli challenger Boris Gelfand struck a ‘heavy blow’ to Viswanathan Anand’s defence of the world title by winning Game No.7, the Indian grandmaster returned to his hotel located near the Red Square and switched off from the game. He did not brood about the loss. Rather, he tuned into the British sitcom Fawlty Towers.
“On the day I lost, I watched Fawlty Towers because you want to laugh your head off,” Anand told The Sunday Express hours before travelling from Moscow to his hometown Chennai.
On other evenings after the game, the World champion watched episodes of British comedy Yes Minister and reality show Only Fools on Horses, which involves celebrities trying their hand at equestrian events. “To unwind in the evenings I would watch a mix of Yes Minister, Only Fools on Horses,” the world champion said. His wife Aruna was around to ensure that Anand remained in the right frame of mind irrespective of the outcome of the day’s duel.
When the games turned intense, 42-year-old Anand, while waiting at the backstage, would hum Jamaican reggae artist Sean Paul’s catchy number ‘She Doesn’t Mind’ till Gelfand completed his move. This song was played often when Anand’s entourage reviewed the day’s proceedings once back at the hotel.
For Anand laughter proved to be the best medicine as his decision to watch British comedy after the loss in Game 7 lightened his mood and put him at ease with just five games remaining to catch-up. Anand responded by winning Game No.8 and went on to eventually defend his title in the tie-breaker last week. It was during one of his backstage reggae-crooning breaks that Anand spotted Gelfand make a big mistake in Game 8.
“Game 8 went beautifully. I assumed Boris (Gelfand) was trying to double his lead rather than sit on it. He was very motivated but something clearly went wrong. (Anand set a trap for Gelfand which entailed Gelfand making a blunder of playing Queen to f6). And then I went backstage. I was waiting for my move. I had seen Queen f6 but I was telling myself that is too naive to expect it to happen and then I suddenly saw him make a move from the back of the board. I looked up saw it was Qf6. I thought ‘oh god!’ I came back, checked it for a few minutes and then just went for it. He thought for a while and resigned,” Anand said while looking back at his campaign, which he described as the toughest encounter of his five titles.
While he was considered the favourite going into the Championship, Anand disagreed. “I never saw myself as a favourite. There were a lot of people who kept saying I was favourite but they simply missed the plot. I expected a tough, nerve-wracking match, and I got a tough, nerve-wracking match. It would have been insane to underestimate Boris and I don’t think I would have done that. But I didn’t come here clearly with high expectations. I came here as someone who expected to fight for his life.”