I was confident that he would win. He sounded very confident. He also was very silent about what he did. So I knew that he was keeping his powder dry and he would fire at the proper time.

If you look at all the 11 games, he played brilliantly. His first win with Black was a superb effort. His draw in the ninth game, where his position was very bad, was superb. That showed his capacity to save a grave situation. His tactics, his method of approach, his aggressiveness -- all were evident in this tournament.

It is very gratifying for one to feel that he has blossomed to a beautiful flower.

Were you tense after the tenth game, which Anand lost?

No. It is a game of giants. Two top players of the world were playing. Where is the essence of the game if one man doesn't win a game? I am glad Kramnik won that game. That put some pep in the game.

Otherwise, it was too one-sided?

It cannot be one-sided, and it was not. It was Anand's brilliance that gave him the earlier penetration, but the solidity of Kramnik helped him retrieve the position with a win.

When did he call you?

Usually he calls immediately after the tournament. This time he called after the prize ceremony. At 1.40, he called us. He said, 'I am glad it is over. I am too tired. I will call you tomorrow or day after.' We were so happy to hear his voice. You forget the rest of the world. We congratulated him, and told him that he played brilliantly.

As the father of the World chess champion, do you have any message for young chess players?

I only repeat what Anand always says: love the game and work hard.

Image: Viswanathan Anand and his wife Aruna wait prior to a meeting with Indian President Pratibha Patil in New Delhi on October 15, 2007.

Photograph: Getty Images

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