<p>Russian President Vladimir Putin lauded Russian and Indian chess schools that produced players like Indian World Champion Viswanathan Anand.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Anand, who beat Israeli challenger Boris Gelfand to win his fifth World title, met the Russian leader at his Moscow residence here on Thursday.<br /><br />“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.”<br /><br />Anand won Wednesday’s rapid-fire round of four chess matches with one win and three ties, after their marathon 12-match series ended in stalemate, with five drawn ties and one win each.<br /><br />“You went one-on-one, that was impressive,” Putin said. <br />Saying that he enjoyed the Russian hospitality, the 42-year-old Anand recognised the role played by the Soviet Union in his formative years.<br /><br />“I benefitted a lot from playing chess in Russian Cultural Center in Chennai and my second Grandmaster norm was also made at the Cultural center in New Delhi. <br />“The connection with Russia is quite deep, as I also played a lot of tournaments here while growing up.”<br /><br />"So we brought this on ourselves!" Putin remarked in jest.<br />Gelfand, who grew up in Belarusian capital Minsk, tagged along for the visit and remarked Russia was regaining its place on the world chess stage.<br /><br />“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-organised chess match in history. It will push the development of chess.”<br /><br />Anand has held the undisputed title since October 2008, when he defeated Russia’s Vladimir Kramnik in Bonn. He defended it in 2010 by beating Bulgarian opponent Veselin Topalov 6.5-5.5 in Sofia.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />Russian billionaire and Gelfand’s 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.</p>
<p>Russian President Vladimir Putin lauded Russian and Indian chess schools that produced players like Indian World Champion Viswanathan Anand.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Anand, who beat Israeli challenger Boris Gelfand to win his fifth World title, met the Russian leader at his Moscow residence here on Thursday.<br /><br />“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.”<br /><br />Anand won Wednesday’s rapid-fire round of four chess matches with one win and three ties, after their marathon 12-match series ended in stalemate, with five drawn ties and one win each.<br /><br />“You went one-on-one, that was impressive,” Putin said. <br />Saying that he enjoyed the Russian hospitality, the 42-year-old Anand recognised the role played by the Soviet Union in his formative years.<br /><br />“I benefitted a lot from playing chess in Russian Cultural Center in Chennai and my second Grandmaster norm was also made at the Cultural center in New Delhi. <br />“The connection with Russia is quite deep, as I also played a lot of tournaments here while growing up.”<br /><br />"So we brought this on ourselves!" Putin remarked in jest.<br />Gelfand, who grew up in Belarusian capital Minsk, tagged along for the visit and remarked Russia was regaining its place on the world chess stage.<br /><br />“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-organised chess match in history. It will push the development of chess.”<br /><br />Anand has held the undisputed title since October 2008, when he defeated Russia’s Vladimir Kramnik in Bonn. He defended it in 2010 by beating Bulgarian opponent Veselin Topalov 6.5-5.5 in Sofia.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />Russian billionaire and Gelfand’s 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.</p>