World chess champion and Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand on Wednesday visited the headquarters of the Murugappa Group and had the opportunity to see the 'Clive Chess Set', an ivory masterpiece that dates back to the 18th century, the time of the East India Company.

The chess wizard learnt how the rare piece, believed to have been carved in Khagra in West Bengal between 1750 and 1790, came as a present to A.M.M. Arunachalam and the Murugappa family.

Anand said, "As India is known for its heritage wealth, my visit to Murugappa Group gives me great pleasure to witness the historic chess set. I appreciate the Murugappa family's effort to preserve the heritage masterpiece," he said.

Anand also had an interaction with the employees of the Murugappa group.

Later he was presented a specially designed sports bike by M.A. Alagappan, Executive Chairman of the Group.

Also present on the occasion were M.V. Murugappan, Chairman, Murugappa Chettiar Research Centre and Sridhar Ganesh, the Group's Director (HR).