Chennai, June 06: Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand, the man who inspired a generation to take to playing chess, today cautioned youngsters under the age of 12 against turning professionals and advised parents to allow them lead a normal life.
"I am happy at the manner in which the Indian junior and sub-junior talents are winning tournaments, still the parents should keep in mind the danger that exists at these levels. The players should not become professionals at under-10 and 12 but enjoy their normal life", he said at a press conference here.
On the increasing number of GMs and WGMs from the country and the number of tournaments held to improve sub-junior and junior talents in India, Anand felt that more of GM tournaments would help in furthering the scope of titles and holders of titles at a faster pace.
"Indian chess is looking up. We would really improve if more of GM tournaments are held in India and opportunities are created for these talents to blossom".
Reviewing his own performance Anand said he would be totalling 2775 points in next month's rating.

But he said it would be difficult to accumulate the remaining points in one go to touch the magical mark of 2800. "It is rather too much to bridge the 25-point in single tournament".

Earlier, Anand launched the GNIIT scholarship for 2003-04 at a function here this morning.

Bureau Report