Anand plays simultaneous chess with 40 people: for a cause

Chennai, Oct 8 (UNI)Grand Master 'Vishy' Anand is like any other true celebrity: humble to the core and acting true to his consciousness and conviction, as he did today for a noble cause of raising funds for differently abled children being looked after by an NGO 'Vidyasagar', by playing a chess contest imultaneously with 40 people, including children.

It's really nice that chess consciosness and conviction should come together'', Anand said speaking on the occasion.

''Chess because that's what I do, social consciousnes is what the society can do and conviction because I am confident that these children are great people, capable of doing a lot with just a litle help and equal opportunity'', he observed.

The event ''Anand vs Everybody'', was held in two sessions of 20 players each taking on Anand, who touched everybody's heart as he took this 'match' as seriously as he would in the professional circuit of ELO ratings and prestigious titles.

To take part in the event, launched last year by 'Vidyasagar' one had to buy a ticket, the collection going to the NGO, previously known as Spastics Society of India.

Anand also played a seperate round with the children of 'Vidyasagar' especially one Siddharth, wh is now employed with ABN AMRO Bank here in the document chekcing unit. He also answered questions about his career as a world class player and about the finer points of chess like which is the best opening. To this Anand quipped ''I wish I knew. I play D4. But I am not sure if it's the best.'' Asked about participating readily in such chess games unlike other GMs, Anand said ''basically it's o take chess to the masses.'' Anand has been associated with 'Vidyasagar', as its spokesperson since 2003 and he even corresponds regularly with some of the children.

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