World chess champion Anand meets Russia President Putin for tea
Russia President Vladimir Putin on Thursday lauded the Russian and Indian chess schools that gave rise to such players as Indian world champion grandmaster Viswanathan Anand.
Anand beat Israeli challenger Boris Gelfand at Moscow's State Tretyakov Gallery on Wednesday to win his fifth world title, and a meeting with the Russian leader at his Moscow suburbs residence.
"In India and Russia and in the former Soviet Union, chess schools are probably the best in the world," Putin told Anand.
"Chess has always been a source of pride for our nations."
Anand won Wednesday's quick-fire round of four speed chess matches with one win and three ties, after their marathon 12-match series was drawn, with five ties and one win each.
"You went one-on-one, that was impressive," Putin said.
Anand recognized the role played by the Soviet Union in his formative years, learning the game at a Soviet cultural center while he was growing up, making the Tretyakov Gallery, one of Russia's top museums, a fitting venue.
"I enjoyed Russian hospitality to the full extent," the 42-year-old said.
Gelfand, who grew up in the Belarusian capital Minsk, tagged along for the visit, and remarked Russia was regaining its place on the world chess stage.
"In the last few years Russia, and Moscow in particular, has returned to its position as the capital of the chess world," he said. "This match, I think, was the best-organized chess match in history. It will push the development of chess."
Anand took home the $1.5 million prize and a chess crown sculpture from the Tretyakov, with Gelfand earning $1 million as runner-up.
Anand, 42, has held the undisputed title since October 2008, when he defeated Russia's Vladimir Kramnik in Bonn, Germany. He defended it in 2010 by beating Bulgarian opponent Veselin Topalov 6.55.5 in Sofia.
Gelfand, 43, gained the right to become the world title contender after a win last May against Russia's Alexander Grischuk at a contenders' tournament in Kazan, Russia.
Russian billionaire and Gelfands school friend Andrey Filatov paid $7 million from his own pocket to hold the event in one of the halls of the Tretyakov Gallery before some 400 spectators.
Putin, Anand Laud Soviet Chess School | Sports | RIA Novosti
Newly-crowned world chess champion Viswanathan Anand and runner-up Boris Gelfand today met Russian President Vladimir Putin over a cup of tea in his residence.
Anand, who clinched his fifth World championship title yesterday, beating Gelfend in a tie-breaker 2.5-1.5 after their 12-game affair ended in a draw, told that he had learnt chess in a Soviet cultural center in his hometown when he was a child.
"So we brought this on ourselves!" Putin said.
Putin heaped praise on both the players for their "outstanding game."
This was Anand's fourth world title in a row. The Indian chess wizard bagged his first world title in 2000 before winning three in a row in 2007, 2008 and 2010. He has been the world champion since 2007
World chess champion Anand meets Russia President for tea | Business Standard
Russia President Vladimir Putin on Thursday lauded the Russian and Indian chess schools that gave rise to such players as Indian world champion grandmaster Viswanathan Anand.
Anand beat Israeli challenger Boris Gelfand at Moscow's State Tretyakov Gallery on Wednesday to win his fifth world title, and a meeting with the Russian leader at his Moscow suburbs residence.
"In India and Russia and in the former Soviet Union, chess schools are probably the best in the world," Putin told Anand.
"Chess has always been a source of pride for our nations."
Anand won Wednesday's quick-fire round of four speed chess matches with one win and three ties, after their marathon 12-match series was drawn, with five ties and one win each.
"You went one-on-one, that was impressive," Putin said.
Anand recognized the role played by the Soviet Union in his formative years, learning the game at a Soviet cultural center while he was growing up, making the Tretyakov Gallery, one of Russia's top museums, a fitting venue.
"I enjoyed Russian hospitality to the full extent," the 42-year-old said.
Gelfand, who grew up in the Belarusian capital Minsk, tagged along for the visit, and remarked Russia was regaining its place on the world chess stage.
"In the last few years Russia, and Moscow in particular, has returned to its position as the capital of the chess world," he said. "This match, I think, was the best-organized chess match in history. It will push the development of chess."
Anand took home the $1.5 million prize and a chess crown sculpture from the Tretyakov, with Gelfand earning $1 million as runner-up.
Anand, 42, has held the undisputed title since October 2008, when he defeated Russia's Vladimir Kramnik in Bonn, Germany. He defended it in 2010 by beating Bulgarian opponent Veselin Topalov 6.55.5 in Sofia.
Gelfand, 43, gained the right to become the world title contender after a win last May against Russia's Alexander Grischuk at a contenders' tournament in Kazan, Russia.
Russian billionaire and Gelfands school friend Andrey Filatov paid $7 million from his own pocket to hold the event in one of the halls of the Tretyakov Gallery before some 400 spectators.
Putin, Anand Laud Soviet Chess School | Sports | RIA Novosti
Newly-crowned world chess champion Viswanathan Anand and runner-up Boris Gelfand today met Russian President Vladimir Putin over a cup of tea in his residence.
Anand, who clinched his fifth World championship title yesterday, beating Gelfend in a tie-breaker 2.5-1.5 after their 12-game affair ended in a draw, told that he had learnt chess in a Soviet cultural center in his hometown when he was a child.
"So we brought this on ourselves!" Putin said.
Putin heaped praise on both the players for their "outstanding game."
This was Anand's fourth world title in a row. The Indian chess wizard bagged his first world title in 2000 before winning three in a row in 2007, 2008 and 2010. He has been the world champion since 2007
World chess champion Anand meets Russia President for tea | Business Standard
