Anand says he's well prepared

Anand says he's well prepared

NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 26: Viswanathan Anand made a public appearance on Sunday as soon as he landed in New Delhi and was the cynosure at a press conference arranged by NIIT, announcing its association with the World Chess Championship 2000 on Sunday. Anand talked to the press formally and also sat in the media room for an hour answering questions regarding his preparations, observations about the World championship and all chess matters.

He said Kasparov looked like an imposter during the games against Vladimir Kramnik recently. ``He did not look like Kasparov at all,'' Anand joked. Announcing NIIT's entry into the World chamionship, its chief operating officer P Rajendran said the company was planning to promote chess in a big way and use Anand as one of the major tools. ``Chess is a mind sport; India has great potential in the mental department,'' he said. ``In the 2004 Olympic Games chess will be an exhibition game and we are looking at a medal in the 2008 Olympics.''

Anand added he had a positive experience working with NIIT and it was a pleasant surprise to him that the World Championship was held in New Delhi when he heard of it in May and another surprise when NIIT came in as a sponsor.

The NIIT sponsorship amount is believed to be in the region of Rs 1.5 crore.