Anand all geared up for next month's Corus Chess meet

New Delhi, Dec 21 (UNI) World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand today said he is unperturbed by the challenge to defend his world title against Russia's Vladmir Kramnik in October next year.

Speaking to mediapersons here, Anand said, ''I am looking forward to the match against Kramnik next year but right now I am concentrating on the first three tournaments till March.'' Anand said he is all geared up to showcase his skills in Corus Chess Championship at Wijk Aan Zee in Holland from January 12 next year.

He was here at the felicitation of the winners of NIIT Mind Champions Academy (MCA) 2007. He had a lot os encouraging words for the budding Chess players.

Sports Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar was also present at the function and praised the Indian Grandmaster for his achievements.

''You don't have to be a Russian anymore to become the World Chess Champion,'' Aiyar said at the felicitation.

The minister added that Anand was a rare Grandmaster to inspire himself to carry on and work for young children to inspire to follow his footsteps.

Anand, too, praised the government for providing help to MCA.

''The help that came from the government was invaluable,'' said Anand who has been associated with the MCA for last five years.

''It was a dream to begin with MCA and now it has become a movement and possibly in future it will turn into a national icon,'' Anand added.

''Chess is not only fun to play but also helps the mind to shape in a better way.'' Anand, along with Aiyar, distributed the trophies to the winners of the competition.

The first prize went to Sunbeam school from Varanasi while second and third prizes went DAV Public school, Hyderabad, and DPS, Ruby park, Kolkata respectively.

UNI