9/9/2009 – It was a memorable experience for all involved, and an auspicious one too:
Durban Chess Club was celebrating its 116th birthday! World
Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand visited the Kwazulu Natal Province of South
Africa on a good-will tour, arranged by his sponsor NIIT.
Speeches, dinners, lectures, simul – the World Champion was in his element.
Big illustrated report by Desmond Rooplal.
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Viswanathan Anand visits Durban
Desmond Rooplal on the World Champion's visit to Kwazulu Natal Province
Thanks to NIIT’s program in South Africa, Durban and Mandini chess players
were privileged to have met Viswanathan Anand – in person!
Durban Chess Club Chairman Peter Danklemann shares with Anand a story about
a visit to Durban by another World Champion – Max
Euwe, at the time when Euwe was FIDE President.
Viswanathan Anand, NIIT’s ambassador, talks about the global talent development
corporation, inspiring students to invest in their own skills development, and
the link to economic growth.
YouTube video of Anand’s speech
Anand and Aruna with the NIIT and Moses Kotane team, outside the Umfolozi
College
– Mandini Campus (80 km away from Durban)
With NIIT students
Anand and wife Aruna: the Champion took an interest in the Durban Metro
Chess
Academy’s motto: “Push pawns, not drugs”
Anand gives a 22-board simultaneous exhibition
NIIT Students trying to weather the World Champion's storm
Sayen Naidu (the pink stripe shirt) managed to pull off a draw! Sayen said
he’s never
wash his hand again – after having shaking hands with the World Champion.
DMCA Chairman Bongani Mgaga encourages students to hang in there and give
it their best!
Viswanathan Anand vs Desmond Rooplal
As luck would have it, we had to drive back 80 km to Durban, for Anand’s lecture,
and the game was stopped at 23 moves, I escaped a pawn down, with some resemblance
of what used to be a Berlin.
Bongani Mgaga in a proud moment with the World Champion
Lunch with the King
Later that evening Prof Danklemann introduces Anand, at the Durban Botanical
Gardens, to Durban Chess Club players. Peter reflected on the prestige of a
World Chess Champion, by recounting a story: after a press conference at an
elite New York tournament, a young boy walked up to a reporter and asked for
his autograph. The reporter agreed, but pointed out he was just an ordinary
person, and so enquired why the boy wanted it, to which the boy responded “Ah
yes… you shook the hand of Capablanca!”
An informative and entertaining analysis of the 5th
game, WCh Bonn 2008
Durban Chess club players watch spellbound!
Setting up a critical position from Anand-Lautier 1997, from my copy of
his book “My Best Games of Chess”
When I bought Vishy Anand's book back in in March 2006, I never guessed that
Anand would actually be holding it one day! (…and now it is signed!)
The Indian Consulate General Harsh Shringla introducing Anand. Seated are
honored
guests: Col. Ajai Lal (NIIT), Aruna, Vishy Anand and Durban’s Deputy Mayor Logie
Naidoo,
Anand speaking about the benefits of chess
Down to business: Anand takes on the KwaZulu Natal Junior team. Former Durban
Chess Club Champion Keith Rust (blue shirt) watches over some of his students
What a memorable experience, and at an auspicious time for the World Chess
Champion Viswanathan Anand to have visited Durban, since August saw the Durban
Chess Club celebrating its 116th birthday! The DCC Bulletin, by MM Miller,
and archival records thanks to Keith Rust. Note: Keith Rust has since broken
the DCC record mentioned above...
Photos by: Paul Curry, Shaun Savy, Keith Rust, and Desmond
Rooplal
Report and video: Desmond Rooplal
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