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 Grand Master Viswanathan Anand, who emerged victorious in the world chess championship held at Tehran last week, was today felicitated in Chennai by a host of dignitaries, led by Chief Minister M
Karunanidhi. Anand, who won the world chess championship for juniors at the age of 16, and is the first Asian to bag the world chess championship held since 1886, was gifted a two bed room flat at the SAF Games Village at Koyambedu in the city by the Chief Minister.
Appreciating Anand for bringing laurels to Tamil Nadu and the country, besides Thanjavur, the district from which he and Anand hailed, the Chief Minister said he did not want to pretend that he knew the intricacies of the game of chess.
Describing in detail the measures taken by the State Government since 1996 to encourage sports, Karunanidhi said close to 7,000 sports centres were opened, involving an expenditure of Rs 20 crore to provide sports facilities to students and youth in the districts.
 In his acceptance speech, Anand thanked the Central and State Governments, the people, his parents, and his wife for the support extended in recent years, which enabled him to walk away with the world chess championship award at Tehran.
Overwhelmed by the large gathering, and the grand reception at Kalaivanar Arangam in the city, Anand said he really did not expect so much love and affection from the people in return to what he did for the country.
K Srikkanth, former cricket captain, pointed out that Anand had proved Tamil Nadu was hailed for its intellect, keen sense of sportsmanship and commitment to sporting values. Anand played chess like the cricketers played one day cricket with speed and precision, he said.
Manuel Aaron, general secretary of the State Chess Association, urged the Government to take steps to release a stamp in
honour of Anand and also allot land and building for the Chess Association.
Among others who felicitated Anand were, Secretary of Tamil Nadu Sports Development Authority (TNSDA) Ashok Vardhan Shetty, Union Minister of State for Sports Pon Radhakrishnan, State Minister Pongalur N Palanichamy, Vice president of TNSDA Sivanthi Adithan, industrialist N Mahalingam and Member Secretary of TNSDA Niranjan Mardi.
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