NIIT WELCOMES WORLD CHESS CHAMPION AND NIIT MINDCHAMPION VISWANATHAN ANAND
Anand does a hat trick by winning three World Chess Championship titles back to back
Chennai, 24 May, 2010: NIIT, leading Global Talent Development Corporation and Asia’s largest IT trainer, welcomed World Chess Champion and NIIT MindChampion Viswanathan Anand upon his arrival in Chennai today after his scintillating win over his Bulgarian challenger Veselin Topalov. Defending champion Anand emerged as the undisputed king of chess yet again by winning with black against Veselin Topalov in the last 12th Game of the World Chess Championship that concluded at Sofia on May 11, 2010.
Viswanathan Anand defeated Veselin Topalov with consummate ease in the final game of the 12-game match in 56 moves. He won the game with a 6.5-5.5 score, almost weaving a ‘Black Magic’ net in the final game. Anand had earlier won the championship in 2000 and 2007 retaining his title in 2008, and now in 2010. He is the only non-Soviet to retain a title 2 times successfully.
Besides being the first Asian to win the World Championship in 2000, Anand now has the distinction of creating a hat trick with three World Championship titles in 2007, 2008 and 2010. He is the only person in Chess history to have won a World championship title in all formats: match, knock-out and tournament.
On this remarkable accomplishment, Viswanathan Anand said, “This victory is very special as it has been the toughest match that I have ever played. But I am happy that I kept the pressure till the end and could live up to the expectations of millions of Indians.”
“I am optimistic that young Indians will rule the game of chess in the years to come. The zest and the talent that youngsters’ have displayed in NIIT MindChampions indicate that our country has huge potential. I am confident that the forthcoming NIIT MindChampionship will witness participation of over million students across India.”
Congratulating Anand on his phenomenal achievement Mr. Rajendra S Pawar, Chairman NIIT, remarked, “This is indeed a very proud moment for every Indian. I heartily congratulate World Champion and NIIT MindChampion Anand and sincerely hope that he will play an active role in grooming future World Champions through NIIT MindChampions Academy.”
Interestingly throughout the 12 game Match, unlike his previous match against Kramnik, Black was not able to dominate, except in the last game. It was a superb victory by Anand, taking advantage of Topalov´s misjudgment of the position and the Bulgarian´s displeasure at facing Anand in the tie breaks. It is curious that Anand has been able to win his two World Championship matches with the black pieces.
Starting 1999, NIIT’s association with World Chess Champion, Viswanathan Anand, including contractual extensions- is the longest running Brand Ambassador contract in the history of Indian sport.
About NIIT MindChampions’ Academy
The NIIT MindChampions’ Academy (MCA), a not-for-profit initiative has been set up as a joint initiative with Grand Master Viswanathan Anand and NIIT Ltd, with the objective of promoting Chess in schools to enable development of young minds. Studies have shown that Chess improves concentration and diligence, thus helping students perform better academically.
Established in 2002, the Academy has fostered over 7000 Chess clubs with over 8,50,000 students as its members, in schools across the country. Anand has personally traveled to Agartala, Guwahati, Hyderbad, Mumbai, New Delhi, Jaipur, Patna, Raipur, Chennai, Hyderbad, Kolkata, Pune and other cities across India, spreading the message and motivating the school students to start playing Chess. NIIT Mind Champions’ Academy conducts an Annual Event around the month of December and January, known as Chess Master for these school children across India in the NIIT network.