My son is the greatest ever: Krishnamurthy Viswanathan

An elated Viswanathan Anand’s father declared that his son is the greatest chess player ever to be born. “Yes, I think so (that he is the greatest),” the proud father told DNA late on Tuesday night, shortly after his son defended the World Chess Championship with black pieces against challenger Veselin Topalov in Sofia, Bulgaria, on Tuesday.

When asked if he thought his son was greater even than the Russian legend, Gary Kasparov, considered the greatest of all time, he answered in the affirmative. “The answer will vary from person to person as the circumstances were different. But yes, according to me, Anand is the greatest,” Krishnamurthy Viswanathan, who retired as general manager of Southern Railway, said.

TV reporters thronged the Anand household throughout the evening. “What emotions are you going through as an Indian? I’m experiencing the same,” he said even as he was expecting his son’s phone call any moment.

“It’s a stupendous achievement,” Viswanathan said. “My wife and I were following the game online and it feels great. We knew he would win after the 40th move.”

So when would they speak to their son? “I’m sure he will call within 10 minutes. He always does. Can we talk to you later? He will call now,” the septuagenarian signed off.