Plaudits pour in for Anand

KOZHIKODE, DEC. 24. ``It's a great moment for all of us,`` said Grandmaster Pravin Thipsay reacting to Viswanathan Anand's great victory in the World championship at Teheran on Sunday. Thipsay did not think that he would just crush Alexei Shirov.

''I thought it would be 4-2, but this 3.5-0.5 is a fantastic result. Anand's performance in the New Delhi leg of the World championship was also very convincing. This is really a wonderful achievement, and I hope Anand's victory is properly celebrated throughout India. We should give him receptions, and we should give him something back for all he has done for us,`` Thipsay added.

International Master D.V. Prasad has also seen Anand from close quarters when the genius was beginning to make his mark on the Indian scene. ''It's a fantastic effort from Anand,`` he said. I always knew he would be the World champion; probably I expected him to win a little earlier. But nevertheless he has done it, and I feel his triumph would do a world of good to Indian chess. We should not let this oppurtunity go; we should make the best out of it.''

India's best female chess player, and only Woman Grandmaster, S. Vijayalakshmi said Anand's triumph would be a big inspiration for youngsters like her. ``I am happy and proud. Since Anand is also from my city, Chennai, my pleasure is doubled. I would like to congratulate Anand on a great double; he had won the World Cup in China in September you know.''

India's greatest sportswoman ever, P.T. Usha was also delighted Anand's win. ``It's great that India has at least produced a World champion in a sport which was born in this land,'' she said. ``I would like to congratulate Anand's parents also on this splendid achievement. This is a New Year gift in the new Millennium for Indian sport.''

Koneru Humpy feels that it is the greatest thing to have happened for Indian chess. Speaking to The Hindu from Vijayawada, Humpy said ``It is not always easy to win with white pieces. No doubt, he is my childhood hero and I am delighted at the fact that Anand is in a different class now,'' she observed. ``Now, we can proudly say that India also has a World champion. This should provide the greatest inspiration to all the budding stars in the country,'' said Humpy.

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