New World chess champion Carlsen returns home richer by Rs 9 crore

Newly-crowned World chess Champion Magnus Carlsen, on Monday, took home prize-money of Rs 9.90 crore after he beat India's Viswanathan Anand in a keenly watched contest that spanned over 10 days in Chennai.

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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa gave away the prize-money and trophies to the Norwegian sensation and Indian veteran at a short ceremony in Chennai that lasted about ten minutes.

Carlsen is the 20th player and first Norwegian in the history of world chess to win the title. He won three games in the 12-game contest which saw seven drawn.

Carlsen, the second youngest player after Garry Kasparov to win the coveted title, was awarded a gold-plated trophy, the design of which was handpicked by Jayalalithaa, gold medal and an olive wreath at a private hotel where the two players vied for the championship last week.

Anand, a five-time World champion whose title was wrested by the young challenger with a stupendous 6.5-3.5 score, had to settle for the runners-up purse of Rs 6.03 crore, a silver plaque and silver medal.

FIDE president Kirsan Ilyumzhinov presented the respective medals to Carlsen and Anand.

The wreath, presented to Carlsen, was made of olive leaves from Nilgiris in the state.