The FIDE World Chess Championship match between title holder Viswanathan Anand and Norway’s Magnus Carlsen is all set to be inaugurated by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Ms J Jayalalithaa at the Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai at 4 p.m. on Thursday.

The battle which will be fought for a prize purse of Rs.14 Crores is expected to be a close one. Anand’s overall head-to-head advantage is too tiny and he will have to win that extra game to keep his title. If Anand wins this match it will be his sixth world title. In the event of Carlsen winning the title, he will become the 20th player ever to win. World chess has been ruled by just 19 players since 1886.

Prior to the opening ceremony, the players will be seen together for the first time in the opening press conference at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. The most important question for the players will be the fact that did they have enough time to complete their preparations and tasks ahead of the match.

This is the 53rd world chess championship match in the history of the game. The opening will see a bitter battle area with Anand hoping for the upperhand in all his games, white or black. Early lead by the Indian will put the Norwegian under pressure in the remaining games. Anand will thus be expected to put the best at the start.

Carlsen is the favourite by virtue of his higher rating but other local factors will be against him. “Ticket sales has been brisk for the early games,” said Bharat Singh Chauhan, CEO of AICF.

An opportunity for India to impress that we can stage such big ticket games with ease knocks on our doors. The organiser, the Tamil Nadu State Chess Association has made extended arrangements together with Government departments to make this a grand success.

Continuing with Sergey Shipov’s advice in New In Chess on how Anand has to defeat Carlsen, it says the Indian should study strange manoeuvres and unusual piece placings. Finally, Anand should believe that he can win.

The teams are in place. We are comfortable and relaxed. “Our full team arrived yesterday,” said Eric van Reem of Germany who is part of the Anand team. This hotel is better than the Bonn 2008, Sofia 2010 and Moscow 2012 hotels said another team member of Anand. “The rooms are amazing here.” In Moscow, we had a lovely view of the red square and the Kremlin from the rooms.

The chief arbiter, FIDE CEO, AICF CEO and others had short meetings during the day to give the final touches to the preparations of the organisers. Hyatt Regency Hotel in the heart of Chennai is also fully geared to stage this match. Their staff also took a special chess class and got themselves updated on the match and the game itself.

In the opening ceremony on Thursday, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Ms J Jayalalithaa will draw the colours for the players and officially inaugurate the contest at 4 p.m. The Sports Minister of Tamil Nadu will give the welcome address and FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov will make the Presidential address. P.R. Venketramaraja, President of the Tamil Nadu State Chess Association will offer the vote of thanks. Cultural shows featuring Indian music and dance are planned during the ceremony.

The event will be covered by National Television network DD-Sports and on the official website

AICF Press Release Nov 6, 2013.

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