In a surprise move, World Champion Viswanathan Anand announced his team of seconds at the opening joint press conference at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Chennai on November 7, 2013.

“I appreciate Anand revealed his seconds, but I am not going to return the favor,” said challenger Magnus Carlsen of Norway who did not reveal his team of trainers. In the last few years it has become a practice for the players not to reveal the seconds or trainers until the match is completed.

Anand broke that news when Ashok Venugopal of the New Indian Express asked both players for team members. New Indian Express is a media partner for this world chess championship. The names revealed by Anand were Krishnan Sasikiran, Sandipan Chanda, Peter Leko (Hungary), and Radoslaw Wojtaszek (Poland).

Leko and Wojtaszek have worked with Anand before. Leko had played for the world chess title and lost the title match to Kramnik. The Indian trained in Germany for this match and is fully prepared for this match.

“I am really happy that the World Chess Championship match is happening in Chennai. I am thankful to the Chief Minister Jayalalithaa without whom this match would not have taken place here. I really look forward to playing the event in my home city,” said Anand.

“Everything is good so far. Looking forward to the match to start,” said Carlsen.

Playing and staying in the same hotel saves commuting time of at least half an hour said Anand who added that it meant a lot during zero tolerance.

“Please enjoy the hospitality and enjoy the match,” said D.V. Sundar, Vice President and World Chess Championship Director.

FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov congratulated India on becoming No.1 nation in the number of FIDE rated players on the rating list and listed Anand’s achievements in his address to the press.

AICF Press Release Nov 7, 2013