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New Delhi: Indian Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand’s father Viswanathan Iyer has termed his son’s achievement of winning his fifth World Championship title as the “proudest moment of our lives”.
“It’s the proudest moment of our lives,” his father said moments after Anand showed immense resilience to beat challenger Boris Gelfand of Israel in a tense rapid chess tie-break in Moscow.
“I am extremely proud... sensational... He has beaten the best in the chess world. It’s a unique achievement,” Iyer said.
Asked about the new crop of players who have entered the chess world, Anand senior said: “The new crop has come in. He is in between the new and the old generation.”
On Gelfand, Iyer said: “Gelfand has always been a tough player.”
Mother Susheela Viswanathan, who has also been playing the role of mentor and guide to the chess legend since his childhood, too, was on top of the world.
“Oh that (mentoring) was so many years ago... not anymore,” she said when asked if she still considers herself Anand’s mentor.
Asked if Anand’s son would be following in his father’s footsteps, Susheela said: “It is for them to decide. ”
Wife Aruna Anand, too, was ecstatic . “It was a very tough match. Happy, that it has gone our way. It was very tense. You can imagine in the tie-break, anything can happen. For tie-breaks, you can’t prepare beforehand.” (PTI)
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