Royal dining with Chess King Magnus

Norwegian protocol did not permit official photographers when the king, Mukherjee, Queen Sonja and the president’s daughter Sharmishta greeted the guests at the banquet. As Carlsen was at a distant table, the president could chat with him only when liqueur and coffee were served after the four-course dinner.

Carlsen told Mukherjee how he enjoyed being in India last November for the world championship match against reigning champion Vishwanathan Anand. “The president told me I was a role model for the youth and I must motivate more young people,” recalled Carlsen of his brief encounter with Mukherjee.

At the banquet, this correspondent was privileged to be seated opposite Carlsen and Norwegian pop artiste Samsaya Sampda Sharma (her family is from Himachal Pradesh) and the chat was about the upcoming world championship at Sochi in Russia.

Even though wine and champagne flowed, Carlsen sipped only water. He said there were a lot of uncertainties on whether the championship would be held in Russia due to sponsorship and political reasons. The crisis in Ukraine has pitted Russia against western Europe and sponsors had become wary.

But Russian strongman Vladimir Putin insisted that the championship should take place and ensured that funds would flow. Carlsen explained he signed in late because of the uncertainties and laughed away rumours that he was afraid of playing against Anand, who has won two tournaments to qualify for the playoff. “I have never been afraid. I like to play,” he said.

Source: http://week.manoramaonline.com