Anand's Receives Chess Oscar For The Sixth Time

By Arvind Aaron

World Champion Viswanathan Anand was awarded the Chess Oscar by the FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov at Baku. Anand, born December 11, 1969 at Chennai wins this prestigious award for the sixth time, the highest won by a non-Russian. Robert James Fischer had won this thrice.

Anand who won the World Title at Bonn last year by defeating Vladimir Kramnik 6.5-4.5 in a match was expected to pick this award which is run by the Russian Chess Magazine, 64 Chess Review. It was after a massive poll exercise for which journalists around the world cast their votes.

The AICF President N. Srinivasan and Honorary Secretary D.V. Sundar have congratulated Anand on his latest achievement. This news will naturally make Anand's fans around the world and particularly at hometown Chennai very happy and excited.

Anand is in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, competing in the President's Cup playing for the FIDE World Team against Azerbaijan in a four a side rapid match. FIDE World is leading the 8-round contest by 4.5-3.5 after two rounds. Six rounds are still to be played. Anand drew Radjabov in the opener and defeated Vugar Gashimov in the second round to help his team move into lead.

The Chess Oscar comes in the form of a statuette also called the "Fascinated Wanderer". Anand is enjoying chess and also excelling in it. He had won the world Chess title under three formats, knock out, double all-play-all tournament format and finally the match format. The Oscar award is a true confirmation of chess excellence. Anand had won this first in 1997 and 1998 through his tremendous performance in tournament play.