This Article is From Apr 08, 2013

Viswanathan Anand to defend world chess title in home town Chennai

Viswanathan Anand to defend world chess title in home town Chennai

File photo

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa on 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 2013 championship which will be from November 6 to 26.

Jayalalithaa said five-times World Champion Mr Viswanathan Anand - who hails from Tamil Nadu - will defend his title against Norway's Magnus Carlsen.

She said the hosting of the tournament will spur the youth to take up this sport and give boost to 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.

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