The World chess championship match between reigning champion Viswanathan Anand and challenger Magnus Carlsen of Norway, to be held here from November 6 to 26, will offer prize money of $2.55 million (approx. Rs. 14 crore).
Addressing a press conference here on Monday (mainly to thank Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa for granting Rs. 29 crore to host the event), D.V. Sundar, Vice-President, FIDE, said the international chess body had given India time till April 10 and now that it has been announced, the question of bid does not arise.
“If India had not replied by April 10, then they would have opened the bid,” he said. Sundar added it would take around three weeks to formalise the “whole thing”. Manuel Aaron said Anand will rise to the challenge of playing with a much younger player like Carlsen who has “great determination and energy. Young or old, he’ll (Anand) find something for Carlsen”, he added.
J.C.D. Prabhakar, President, AICF, also spoke. V. Hariharan, Secretary, Tamil Nadu State Chess Association, proposed the vote of thanks.
