Tehran, December 24: Scaling Mount Everest, or crossing the Amazon. These were two phrases used by 14th Fide World champion Alexander Khalifman of Russia to describe the ordeal of a Grandmaster if he were to win the World Chess Championship in its old format of the three-year cycle.Vishwanathan Anand did not have even have to climb Elburz, a small snow-covered mountain that overlooks Tehran, as he crushed Alexie Shirov of Spain on the way to becoming the 15th World chess champion.At 31, Anand is now on the summit of his chess career. His coronation as the new chess king will be held on December 27 in Tehran, after which he will fly to New Delhi and then to Chennai for a brief vacation.Fide President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, who is also the head of state of the Russian Republic of Kalmykia, had said at the beginning of the tournament that if Anand won the title, he would take him to the President and Prime Minister of India.As soon as the match was over, Fide's vice-president P.T. Ummer Koya ran to the stage and gave an Indian flag to Anand, who held it aloft. Anand could not leave the playing hall for about half an hour because he was mobbed.When Anand came to the media room, accompanied by Alexie Shirov, he was choked for words. He then said, ``It would take at least a day for me to realise what has happened.'' He thanked his wife and seconds who ``were of great help to me during the championship.''About the title, Anand said, ``It was a dream come true to me. I am happy I finally got the title.''He complimented Shirov's fighting spirit. ``Alexie's style is very sharp. It was not easy as the scores suggested. And one of the games could have gone either way,'' he said.Shirov said the match was virtually over after the second game. He said he had some practical chances in the fourth game. ``I was tired after 16 days of chess without a break (in New Delhi). But it is a pity that it happened at the peak of my career,'' he said.* Viswanathan, Anand's father: Exhilarating feeling. We are on top of theworld* Manuel Aaron: nine-time national champion: This is the ultimate victory.becoming a world champion from India is great and unparalleledS. Vijayalakshmi, India's first Woman Grandmaster: Anand's win is thegreatest achievement by any Indian sportsman. He has proved those who weresaying he was psychology weak, wrong.
