World number one Norwegian chess sensation, Magnus Carlsen, today refused to comment on the controversial "illness clause" in his contract for a World Championship match against Viswanathan Anand from November 7 to 28 here.
Carlsen agreed to play against reigning world champion Anand in his home town only after organisers agreed to insert the clause by which a player can take a two-day break if he falls ill.
The young prodigy, making his first visit to India, refused to entertain questions on the controversial clause at a media conference here despite several attempts by scribes to reason with him.
Carlsen's fears of falling sick, mainly because of Chennai's food and weather, made him include this clause for his title match against Anand.
This was the first time an illness clause had been included for a world championship match.
Carlsen arrived in the city yesterday on a two-day visit accompanied by his manager Espen Agdestein and a personal chef to inspect the arrangements being made for the match at a five-star hotel.
