World Championship: International press reaction

Anand's determination has paid off: father

World chess champion Vishwanathan Anand's father Tuesday said it was his son's determination that helped him retain the world title in Sofia, Bulgaria. "He was quiet determined to win this time and his determination played a key role. It is a great win. He had prepared hard for the last two-three months. The preparations were different this time, because he was playing against Veselin Topalov," Anand's father R. Vishwanathan said. Anand's wife Aruna, who is also his manager, termed the victory as emphatic. "It was an emphatic win. The preparations were at a high level. It was a tense match. He didn't have a good start but then played extremely well. To win the title was really nice," she said. All India Chess Federation (AICF) president N. Srinivasan said: "The champions showed his class. We are proud of his resilience and victory." Full report...

We fought all the odds and won: Aruna Anand

One of the things Anand is always criticised about is the lack of mental toughness and I think he has given a fitting reply. Playing in your opponent's home turf against everyone's advice, embarking on a 40-hour road journey which I think no world champion would have ever done in recent times. Bringing Anand and all the boys by bus was a tough challenge. After reaching Sofia, even a little bit of empathy from the organisers would have made us feel better, but we had to fight even for a postponement. At every stage I was feeling that the dice was heavily loaded against us. We however kept Anand out of everything and saw to it the atmosphere was conducive for him to play good chess. He played a wonderful game and hats off to him! Up to the first half the dynamics were loaded in favour of Anand and then they switched to Topalov but Anand rose to every kind of challenge, kept his nerves in check and kept fighting at all levels. Full report...

Sakal Times E-Paper report

Viswanathan Anand wins World Chess Championship

The pressure should have been on world champion Viswanathan Anand. But in fact, it was challenger Veselin Topalov who showed nerves in the decisive game of the World Chess Championship duel to hand over the world champion the most important victory he needed to protect his title on Tuesday. Game 12 proved to be the Game of Death and so the contest was decided in favour of Anand, who won 6.5-5.5 with a 60-move win over the Bulgarian in Sofia. Anand's victory was worth one million euros (around Rs 6.8 crore).

Game 12 looked destined to end in a draw from the start but Topalov, eager to seal his first match victory in his career, took risks with white pieces and lost in 56 moves. This was Anand's second consecutive World Championship victory in match format after he demolished Vladimir Kramnik of Russia in Bonn two years ago. There is a saying in chess that if black is hell bent on going for a draw (of course, in top-flight competition), there is nothing white can do about it. The Bulgarian found a determined black in Anand, who was solid as a rock in defence. A draw was looming ever since Anand made his second move going for the extra-solid Queen's Gambit Declined, which has hundreds of lines analysed deep into the endgames. Full report with game description...

Anand retains world title

Viswanathan Anand retained the FIDE World Chess Championship, defeating Bulgarian Veselin Topalov with black pieces in the final classic game of the series in Sofia on Tuesday. The same spirit that saw Topalov adopt the ‘Sofia rule,' under which he refused to accept draw offers, was evident when he battled till the end before resigning as his position became increasingly untenable. Anand opted for the Lasker defence after Topalov opened with d4 and black's isolated pawn on c5 was the focus of the early part of the middle game. Anand, however, obtained some counterplay with his light bishop, which exerted its influence all along the long diagonal from a8 to h1. The position still remained fairly equal until Topalov decided to take black's poisoned pawns on f5 and e4, letting Anand breach his defences in a slightly protracted but ultimately critical manner. Full report here...

My son is the greatest ever: Krishnamurthy Viswanathan

An elated Viswanathan Anand’s father declared that his son is the greatest chess player ever to be born. “Yes, I think so (that he is the greatest),” the proud father told DNA late on Tuesday night, shortly after his son defended the World Chess Championship with black pieces against challenger Veselin Topalov in Sofia, Bulgaria, on Tuesday. TV reporters thronged the Anand household throughout the evening. “What emotions are you going through as an Indian? I’m experiencing the same,” he said even as he was expecting his son’s phone call any moment. “It’s a stupendous achievement,” Viswanathan said. “My wife and I were following the game online and it feels great. We knew he would win after the 40th move.” Full report...

Video reports

"It's certainly the toughest match I have ever played. I certainly can't recall any other experience like this. Even during the course of the tournament, it wasn't that any one player was dominating. I knew it would eventually come down to the question of whose nerves held up and I am relieved that it was me," he said. "I wasn't thinking of records, I was more keen on just staying alive. Topalov is an incredibly tough opponent and to have prevailed is definitely nice. This match took a couple of years out of my life."

Times Now: includes an interview with Anand's parents in Chennai

Speaking to NDTV after the win, an elated Anand said: "Nice to know I can wake up as World Champion." The four-time World Champion, who hopes to return to India in a week's time, gave away his secret to relaxation. "Watching Lord of the Rings helped me relax," he said.

Europe Echecs: A series of video reports produced by our French colleagues during the event

First feedback from our readers

Laurentiu Grigorescu, Windsor, Canada
Finally the match is over and the man who deserves most to be the undisputed World Chess Champion won in big style! After years of disputes, parallel organizations, various competitional format to determine the World Champion, now we enter normality – in chess history term. I believe there is no more "yes, but..." when it comes to recognize Vishy Anand as the champion. After being in the chess elite for twenty years, after winning the tournament in Mexico cCity in 2007, and winning the matches against Kramnik and now Topalov, Anand deserves his place "at the same table" with Capablanca, Tal, Fischer or Kasparov. Good play from Topalov, he needs to be recognized for his preparation and fighting spirit. And finally I would like to appreciate the choice made by ChessBase News to let Anish Giri comment several games – very entertaining, yet competent and mature. Will he be the next Anand?

Wayne Mendryk, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
I would like to personally thank you for posting the analysis of GM Giri during the 2010 World Chess Championship, and also thank you for all of your wonderful reports about the match and the links you provided for chess fans. I would also like to give Grandmaster Anand and his team of seconds, GM Nielsen, GM Ganguly and GM Rustan Kasimdzhanov my congratulations for their hard work and success in the match! My congratulations also to GM Topalov and his team for his wonderful efforts to win this World Championship. Would it be possible for you to post who were GM's seconds in this match as I have been unable to find out this information.

Rajko Vujatovic, London
Congratulations to Vishy Anand and to ChessBase for a splendid set of World Championship reports from Malcolm Pein and young Anish Giri!

Sarah Regan, Manchester
Such accurate and entertaining analysis! And despatched at such speed! Thank you Anish! You have been the perfect complement to a great World Championship.

Neeraj Sharma, Swansea
Congrats once again on the wonderful coverage of the world championship. Anish Giri is amazing annotator and has a bright future to say the least.

P Krishnamurthy, Chennai, India
Bravo Anand! Phenomenal effort. You have made us proud.

Chess Fans from Bulgaria, Darmstadt, Germany
We are a group of chess fans from Bulgaria. We are currently very disappointed with your one-sided comments in favour of Anand. And this only because of Kramnik, not because you like Anand more than Topalov. You are insulting all chess fans in Bulgaria. Kramnik is not in Sofia. He is not playing in the match and we hope he will never gets the chance to play in such a match again. Just try to forget him for a second and be fair! Kramnik has not played even one nice game in his whole life and does not deserve anything except to be pitied. We respect both Mr. Anand and Mr. Topalov. Just try to be fair as we are.

Michael Vidler, Wales
Dear Chessbase, your coverage has been absolutely superlative, as always, so just an email to say thanks for this. Just excellent!

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