Seen with the resolution honoring World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand are (l-r): Anand, Ardashes Kassakhian, and Ankit Gupta.
Los Angeles, Claif, US: Los Angeles city councilman Paul Krekorian initiated a resolution in the last week of July to felicitate World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand during his visit to Southern California.
Anand was in Los Angeles at the invitation of Metropolitan Chess, Inc.’s Indian American founder Ankit Gupta for a camp that brought together over 100 youth attendees from all over the nation for a five-day training session by internationally recognized coaches.
It was Anand's second visit to California, having previously been invited by the chess organization. During this visit, he had an opportunity to interact with the young players.
City clerk Ardashes Kassakhian presented Anand with the special resolution, signed by all 15 city council members, which read in part: “Anand has become an ambassador for chess in his native country of India and around the world…and has helped spread the benefits of learning and playing chess to many young Americans.”
Kassakhian also presented Anand with a key to the City of Glendale, a suburb north of Los Angeles that boasts a large Armenian population and chess heritage.
During their meeting, Kassakhian acknowledged Anand's upcoming title defense in November 2013 against Norwegian wunderkind and Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen. The match will be played in Anand's hometown of Chennai.
