World No. 2 women's chess player Koneru Humpy said that Viswanathan Anand's magnificent World championship title win should only spur even many of those established players who waver whether to continue or not playing chess.
“This yet another incredible performance by Anand and could well remove any doubts they had in their minds. At the same time, I sincerely believe that many kids would take up to chess,” the former World junior champion said.
“The best part of Anand's victory is that he came back strongly off a rusty start which was understandable because of the stress factor for travelling to the venue under strange circumstances. And, the unexpected lines he chose to catch even a player of the calibre of Topalov was something of a revelation,” said Humpy who, however, said that she always thought Anand would win the championship.
IM Lanka Ravi appreciated the way Anand fought back so remarkably well despite in this sort of situation for the first time in his career. “It is a tribute to his rich repertoire and the ability to stun even such a solid opponent Topalov with that surprise element in his openings. Anand won two games with Catalan Opening but still preferred not to use the same to pull off surprises,” he said.
Former All England champion Pullela Gopi Chand in a message rated Anand as a “truly outstanding sportsperson”.
Triple Olympian Nandnuri Mukesh Kumar feels that it is Anand who gave chess the identity it has now with his sterling achievements. “Hats off to him for being World champion, a truly deserving one indeed,” he added.
