Anand beats 39 chess wizards in ICM

Hyderabad :

Unfazed by the controversy surrounding his nationality, World champion Vishawanath Anand on Tuesday defeated 39 opponents in a game of simultaneous chess in the International Congress of Mathematicians here.

Anand, who played simultaneous chess against 35 mathematicians and five nominees selected by Infosys at the ongoing International Congress of Mathematicians, remained calm through out his game.

Anand moved from one opponent to another, making quick moves. The space of his game was so fast that six of his opponents lost the game in less than 20 moves, while 33 of them resigned gradually over a period of three hour and 15 minutes.

Just one 14-year-old chess wizard named T Srikar could manage a draw against the four-time World Champion. Anand also gave away autographs to his fans, during the play.

Anand is embroiled in a controversy over his citizenship after the University of Hyderabad had delayed its plan to confer an honorary doctorate on him following questions raised by the Union Human Resourses Development Ministry over the chess wizard's nationality.

Although he holds an Indian passport, the HRD Ministry raised questions on Anand's nationality because he lives in Spain.

Upset with the HRD's ministry's view on his nationality, Anand on Tuesday declined to accept the honour at least for now.