Chess players hail Anand’s success

Ages after India introduced the world to chaturanga**, the presumed ancestor of chess, grandmaster Viswanathan Anand became the first chess player to win the game's biggest crown in three different formats by retaining the world title with a 24-move draw against Vladimir Kramnik of Russia in the World Chess Championship final yesterday.
Chess lovers and players in Siliguri were ecstatic about this unique feat of the Indian maestro. “It is a dream come true,” said Mr Shyamal Chakravorty, a veteran chess player.
Mr Chakravorty, who played at the national level for many years, attributed Anand's success to his change of strategy in the final. “Unlike in his previous matches against Kramnik, Anand was more confrontational this time. He played in D-4 style, instead of E-4,” he said.
Noted chess player and coach Mr Somnath Bannerjee felt Anand's success was an outcome of the 38-year-old player's relentless effort and determination to raise his game to match the standard of Kramnik's play. “Kramnik is an exceptionally solid chess player. To defeat him you need to play a very compact game,” said the ace trainer, who described Anand's victory as the biggest achievement by a chess player in the history of the game.
Noted international chess player Sajal Basak of Siliguri said Anand's victory would not only inspire aspiring chess players in the region to do well at the international level but also encourage youngsters to take to chess in large numbers. The 27-year-old player said it was time to look beyond cricket and hoped Anand's achievement would increase both government and private assistance for individual sports.
But as another international player from the town Malyaban Sarkar felt, individual sports in India might continue to languish in neglect, as cricket was a huge source of revenue for all.
So, as we celebrate the victory of the new-age chaturanga wizard, let's spare a thought for the talented players in different disciplines in India who are crying for assistance and attention!