New Delhi:  Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi congratulated Mr. Viswanathan Anand on his being crowned the World Champion for the 5th time. Mr. Anand defeated Israel’s Boris Gelfand at a match held in Moscow.Shri Modi congratulated Mr. Anand on Twitter where he tweeted, “A true Grandmaster & pride of India! Hearty congratulations to Viswanathan Anand for winning his 5th World Chess title!”Gujarat has made a steady effort to popularize chess across all ages.

Shri Modi once said that chess is a stress killer and can also help in giving a direction to life, adding that chess can cultivate some fine mental abilities.In 2010, Shri Modi had inaugurated the Swarnim Chess Mahotsav with Mr. Viswanathan Anand in which the Chief Minister came face to face with the Grandmaster on the chessboard. The Chess Mahotsav was started with a determination to popularize Chess right from the school level across Gujarat.

In December 2010, the Golden Chess Mahotsav made it to the Guinness Book of World Records during which over 20,000 chess players from all parts of the world engaged in games of chess at a single venue. Mr. Viswanathan Anand himself was present there to guide and inspire the chess players.During 2011’s Khel Mahakumbh, Shri Narendra Modi released a special book for visually challenged children who enjoy playing chess.