 The crowd waited patiently for the Chess King of Chennai who
conquered the world in Tehran. When Viswanthan Anand's flight was delayed for more than an hour, there wasn't any murmur from the crowd which waited for the champion to set foot on the home soil. Chennai Airport wore a festive look as the Jet Airways flight scheduled to arrive at 2130 Hrs was delayed by an hour. After spending
sometime with VIPs, Viswanathan Anand moved outside to the special shamiana erected for welcoming the world champion. Representatives from the media and children in large numbers gave bouquets even as late as 11pm.and the function was arranged in such a way that every one had the
opportunity to congratulate our home town hero  and world champion in close quarters. The organisers deserve a pat on their back for doing a fine job of welcoming the hero on his home coming at the airport.
Anand who was accompanied by his wife Aruna, had time for his kith and kin, and it was a sight to watch when Anand's mother, Mrs Susheela Viswanathan, planted an affectionate kiss on his cheek. NIIT, who has been promoting Anand as "global brand ambassador" had their boys sporting T shirts with Anand's picture embossed and with captions
'Back Anand', 'Hero Number 1', 'Our mind
champ'.
 Anand was received by Tamil Nadu Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Pongalur Palanisamy, Ashok Vardhan
Shetty, IAS, Secretary, Department of Youth and Sports
Development. All India Chess Federation (AICF) Vice-President D V Sundar, Tamil Nadu Chess Association Vice-Presidents
Ramakrishnan and V Kameswaran, Manuel Aaron, Secretary, TNCA, who is also a nine time National Champion and India's first International
Master, felicitated the champion.
 "It is fantastic coming back home. I just want to thank all of you,” a cheerful Viswanathan Anand who returned home for the first time after being crowned the FIDE world champion, said on his arrival at Madras Airport. Anand, who became the first champion from Asia, was given a rousing reception at the airport as he arrived with his wife from New Delhi late last night. The achievement seems to have sunk into him, it seemed. Anand, flashing his trademark smile, accepted the garlands and posed cheerfully as flashbulbs clicked and a large number of TV channel reporters surged forward for a glimpse of the king.
Anand
answering to the felicitations said, " Its nice to be back. The reception here is fantastic and with the touch of Madras,
is  like having home food." On the Kramnik - Anand prestige match Vishy said, "I
don't know right now. We are in touch only through newspapers and media. Right now its been a great year!!." About the expectations from now on and pressure to perform as world champion Anand
quipped," That will be very good pressure to live unto! Its a challenge to
fulfill" and about his success in the month long world championship Anand had this
to say, "Freshness for the whole month was the key element" and added with his usual wit," And I have been preparing for all these years!." And one can now
for see the effects of his title triumph and bringing the title to its home, as Vishy
felt," I feel the title triumph will popularise the game in the country. I hope to popularise it more by playing as before and maybe sometime in the
future, I may start an academy to nurture talent though its not for the present."
 Answering to each and
every member of public who chanced to speak with him, Anand observed that he played the knock out event game by game and to survive the game each and every day was only on his mind, not thinking about the tournament as a whole, as
on one defeat its all over. As such it was two games and one opponent at a time was the bottom line and not thinking of whom he would meet in the final be it Shirov or any other player. And playing the month long event he found himself full of enthusiasm, that even on the rest day after the first three games in the final, he felt continue the match without a break. For those who were present on the champ's arrival in his home soil, it was a moment in history that they can share with their grand children in the years to come.
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