Viswanathan Anand blessed with baby boy

CHENNAI: World chess champion Viswanathan Anand has become a father after 14 years. Aruna Anand gave birth to a baby boy last Saturday at Apollo hospital at 6.35 am, much to the surprise of the chess world as the news was not known to many except a few close relatives of the chess ace."I am very happy at the moment," a tired butdelighted Aruna told TOI on Wednesday. "Anand is also extremely happy." Thechild will be named Akhil, in keeping with the names of Anand and Aruna. "Itwill be a learning curve for both me and Anand as this is a new experience forus," said Aruna.Chessvibes reported that Anand first informed hisgood friend, Hans-Walter Schmitt, the organizer of many chess tournaments inMainz, of the good news. "That was so wonderful, that he immediately picked upthe phone to tell me the news," Schmitt said. "I also spoke to Aruna. Everythingis fine with mother and child."Anand was scheduled to play forBaden-Baden in last week's final against Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga, but hecancelled his engagement following the happy arrival of hisbaby.Anand, who married Aruna in July 1996, had been so busy withhis chess career that he set up a base in Spain (Madrid) in the 1990s to keep upwith his tournament schedule in Europe. "Three years ago we decided to shiftbase to Chennai. It helps when you have family members around you," she said.The couple moved to their new house at RA Puram three years ago after living atBesant Nagar for long time.