Anand to defend world chess title in home town

Chennai, April 8 (IANS)

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa Monday said the state will host the World Chess Championship this November between reigning champion from India Viswanathan Anand and the challenger, Norway’s Magnus Carlsen.

Making the announcement in the assembly, Jayalalithaa said: “Considering that Tamil Nadu had come forward to hold the 2012 World Chess Championship, the World Chess Federation (WCF) had requested us to hold the contest this year in Chennai without any bidding.”

She said the state government, accepting the request, has decided to allocate Rs.29 crore for the holding of the 2013 Championship from Nov 6-26.

Jayalalithaa said five-times World Champion Anand — who hails from Tamil Nadu — will defend his title against Norway’s Carlsen.

She said the hosting of the tournament will spur the youth to take up this sport and give a boost to the development of many chess players.

Jayalalithaa said she had agreed to the request of WCF chief Kirsan Illyumzhinov to hold the 2012 world title tournament in Chennai at an outlay of Rs.20 crore. However, as Russia submitted a higher bid, the tournament was held there in 2012, Jayalalithaa added.