Viswanathan Anand will start with black pieces in the first game of his 12-round World Championship Match against Magnus Carlsen on Saturday.
After inaugurating the ‘FIDE World Championship Match-2013’, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalitha picked the photograph of Anand from the first bowl and a black piece from the other during the draw of lots at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium.
The inaugural function was also attended by FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, besides the two players.
Jayalalitha said hosting of the World Championship here will herald a new course in the Nation’s interest in the sport.
“It is an occasion which will set the tone and herald a new course in the Nation’s interest in this sport — which has been celebrated as the ‘Gymnasium of the Mind’. Chess is very close to my heart and I regard this game very highly, both as a player and as an enthusiast,” she remarked.
Jayalalithaa described Anand as the epitome of chess in India and a role model for aspiring players of the country.
“This astoundingly modest personality from Chennai has made us all proud with his resplendent ability to deftly navigate expertly around this complex maze of 64 squares,” she said.
“The entire atmosphere here is charged with intellectual voltage as both prepare vigorously for the epochal battle,” she said, adding that it was a proud moment for Chennai to host the event.
The championships carry a prize fund of Rs 14 crore, with the winner taking home 60 percent of it and the runner-up receiving 40 percent.
DH News Service