Security no problem for Magnus
A chess match is a battle of brains and two can play the game in a small place.
By : s sujatha
Update: 2013-11-16 10:06 GMT
Chennai: A chess match is a battle of brains and two can play the game in a small place. But top chess players are superstars and draw a lot of attention. World chess championship challenger Magnus Carlsen is no exception. Thanks to his top ranking, he, in fact is more an obsession for people in India, where the game of 64 squares originated.
The 23-year-old Carlsen is in Chennai to play for his first world title against five-time champion Viswanathan Anand. The Norwegian has not only brought along got his family members, a manager, chef and doctor, but also his security to keep him safe in this world’s second most populous country.
But, if you expect a man with big muscles and angry eyes, you are wrong. The soft-spoken and bespectacled Bjorn Gunnar Nesse (53) is Carlsen’s personal security here. The tall Oslo-resident, who makes his living as a consultant in producing books, magazines and other media-related stuff, has been with Team Carlsen since the 2010 Pearl Spring Tournament in Nanjing, China.
“I believe that if you look violent, you will only attract violent people. My job is to make Carlsen safe and nothing else. I stick close to him whenever he is out of his room or the playing area. If people go near him and he is not prepared for it, it will be my job to tell them to give respect to him,” said Nesse explaining his role.