Viswanathan Anand

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Viswanathan Anand was born on 11 December 1969 in a Tamil Hindu family in Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu, India. He learned to play chess at age six from his mother and further developed his skills while living in Manila from 1978 to the early 1980s. He was educated at Don Bosco Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Chennai, and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Loyola College, Chennai. Known as the 'Lightning Kid' for his rapid playing speed as a child, Anand earned the sobriquet during his early career in the 1980s. He became India's first grandmaster in 1987 by winning the Shakti Finance International chess tournament in Coimbatore, and was awarded the Padma Shri at age 18. In 1995, he played the PCA World Chess Championship against Garry Kasparov at the World Trade Center; after eight opening draws (a record), Anand won game nine with a powerful exchange sacrifice, but lost four of the next five and the match 10½–7½.

Reader's Guide

Anand's significance lies in his unprecedented achievements for Indian chess and his consistent dominance at the world level. He defeated Alexei Shirov in a six-game match to win the 2000 FIDE World Chess Championship, a title he held until 2002. He became undisputed world champion in 2007 and defended his title against Vladimir Kramnik in 2008, Veselin Topalov in 2010, and Boris Gelfand in 2012. He lost the title to Magnus Carlsen in 2013 and lost a rematch in 2014 after winning the 2014 Candidates Tournament. In April 2006, he became the fourth player to pass the 2800 Elo mark, after Kramnik, Topalov, and Kasparov. He occupied the number-one position for 21 months, the sixth-longest period on record. Anand is considered the greatest rapid chess player of his generation, winning the FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship in 2003 and 2017, the World Blitz Chess Cup in 2000, and the Chess World Cup twice (2000, 2002). He was the first recipient of the Khel Ratna Award in 1991–92 and received the Padma Vibhushan in 2007, the first sportsperson to do so. His legacy includes popularizing chess in India and being a well-liked figure who refrained from political and psychological ploys, evidenced by rivals Kasparov, Kramnik, and Carlsen each aiding his preparations for the 2010 World Chess Championship.

Did You Know?

• Anand learned to play chess at age six from his mother and further developed his skills while living in Manila from 1978 to the early 1980s.
• He earned the nickname 'Lightning Kid' for his rapid playing speed as a child in the 1980s.
• In 1995, he played the PCA World Chess Championship against Garry Kasparov at the World Trade Center; after eight opening draws (a record), he won game nine with a powerful exchange sacrifice.
• Anand was the only sportsperson invited to the dinner Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh hosted for US President Barack Obama on 7 November 2010.
• He was denied an honorary doctorate from University of Hyderabad due to confusion over his citizenship status, and later declined to accept it.