Five-time world chess champion Viswanathan Anand Saturday returned his Hometown Chennai from Moscow to a grand welcome.
“I thank all those who came to receive me. I am very happy,” said Anand, 42.
His wife Aruna Anand, who too returned with him, said: “I am feeling so happy. It was a tense match, Anand played the tie-breaker really well. We are looking forward to meeting our son Akhil.”
The world champion was received by his family members, friends, fans and chess association officials at the airport.
He thanked Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa for her gesture of announcing Rs.2 crore cash award on his winning the world title for the fifth time by beating his Israeli challenger Boris Gelfand in the tie-breaker in Moscow Wednesday.
The government and the chess Federation officials also came to airport for the . Additional secretary Rajkumar and member secretary, Sports Vijay Kumar received Anand on behalf of the state government.
“I am very happy that so many people have come here to greet me and honour me,” Anand after arriving here from Moscow. “I express my grateful thanks to madam (CM) Jayalalitha. They recognised my victory for a cash award of Rs 2 crore. I am happy that chess has been introduced in the schools. I am sure, more champions will grow now. “I have sought a meeting with the CM and hopefully it will happen soon,” he said