Rs.25 Lakh For Anand
By Arvind Aaron

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi announced Rs.25 lakh as a cash award for the new World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand, a Government official release said.

About 28 sport persons from the state would be receiving Rs.96.05 lakhs. It also includes awards for World Under-18 girls champion Aarthie Ramaswamy (Rs.1 lakh) and Krishnan Sasikiran.

With most cricket players receiving huge gifts from their respective states it remained to be seen what Tamil Nadu will do for Anand. The state had announced Rs.5 lakh for Dinesh Karthik for the World Cup Cricket win earlier last week.

The cash award of Rs.25 lakhs is the highest given to any chess player. For winning the Asian Games gold medal, Krishnan Sasikiran received Rs.20 lakh from the same Government late last year.

World champion and World No.1 ranked Viswanathan Anand is currently in Turkey with regard to the European Club Cup Championships. He is representing Baden Baden Club, his German team.

Anand Returning On October 17

Viswanathan Anand is returning to his birth place and home town of Chennai on October 17 by an Indian Airlines flight at 11 30 a.m. Large number of chess fans are expected from Chennai and other parts of India to receive the 37-year old world champion.