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Playing against Anand a great challenge for Magnus: Dad

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ANI Chennai

The father of newly-crowned World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen, Henrik, has praised India's Viswanathan Anand and said that his son has learnt a lot from the latter.

Magnus Carlsen became world champion as Game 10 of the chess championship ended in a draw on Friday.

Henrik Carlsen expressed happiness and said everything has come out in the best possible way.

"Well, of course, coming to India to play against the reigning world champion and many times world champion Viswanathan Anand was a great challenge, and I must say, that everything has come in the best possible way for Magnus," said Henrik Carlsen.

Carlsen, about a week shy of his 23rd birthday, led 6-3 before Friday's game and needed just a draw to become the first champion from the West since American Bobby Fischer's reign ended in 1975.

 

Talking to media persons after the match, Henrik Carlsen said: "Anand is a great fighter, he is a gentleman. He is one of the all time greatest chess players and we are grateful that he showed such grace also on the difficult day today."

Anand was playing with black pieces-a disadvantage as white moves first - and could not make much headway in a game that lasted nearly five hours. Anand has won the title five times in 2000, 2007, 2008 2010 and 2012.

This year, the chess title comes with a cash prize of 1.5 million dollars for Carlsen, while Anand will receive around a million dollars.

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First Published: Nov 23 2013 | 9:07 AM IST

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