From 2007 to 2013, Indian chess Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand, a five-time World Chess Champion, ruled the chess world for six years.
The former World Chess Champion is one of only two people to have won the world championships in Classical, Rapid, and Blitz, as well as the only person to have won the world championship in Match, Tournament, and Knockout forms. Anand learned to play chess from his mother, who is a chess fanatic.
She was a talented player who never belonged to a team. The little child inherited his mother’s chess proclivity and began playing at the age of six. His mother’s support and inspiration helped him grow into the amazing player he is today.
He earned the National Sub-Junior Chess Champion at the age of 14 after becoming a professional early in his career. He became the fastest Indian to obtain the title of International Master at the age of 15.
Anand was India’s first Grandmaster when he was 18 years old. He won the World Championship for the first time in 2000, and he would go on to win it four times more. He is regarded for being a humble and straightforward person who is well-liked by everyone, even his former adversaries.
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Viswanathan Anand Early life
Viswanathan Anand was born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, on December 11, 1969, and spent his childhood there. His father, Krishnamurthy Mugenda and magenta, was a former Southern Railways general manager who had studied at Jamalpur, Bihar, while his mother, Sushila, was a housewife, chess aficionado, and well-connected socialite.
Anand is the third kid in a family of three. His sister is 11 years his junior while his brother is 13 years his senior. Shivakumar his brother works at Crompton Greaves in India as a manager. Anuradha his younger sister is a University of Michigan professor.
Anand began studying chess from his mother when he was six years old but he honed his skills in Manila where he resided with his parents from 1978 to 1980 His father worked for the Philippine National Railways as a consultant.
Anand attended Don Bosco Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Egmore Chennai and graduated from Loyola College in Chennai with a bachelor’s degree in commerce.
Viswanathan Anand Wiki
Viswanathan Anand (born December 11, 1969 in Madras, India, now Chennai) is an Indian chess grandmaster who has won the Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE) world championship five times: in 2000, 2007, 2008, 2010, and 2012.
Family, and Education in Viswanathan Anand
Viswanathan Anand’s father worked for the Southern Railways as a general manager, while his mother is a stay-at-home mother.
He is the youngest of three siblings and was born in Tamil Nadu to a Brahmin family. Before enrolling at Loyola College in Chennai, he finished his education at Don Bosco Matriculation Higher Secondary School.
His mother, who was a chess fanatic, was the one who originally introduced him to the game. At the age of 6, he began playing chess.
Viswanathan Anand Physical appearance
Celebrity beauty is shown in their physical appearance. Fans are fascinated by a celebrity’s physical appearance, which includes height, weight, and even hairdo. At 51 years old, Viswanathan Anand’s height is still unknown.
Height, weight, physical measurements, eye color, hair color, shoe size, and clothing size of Viswanathan Anand will be updated as soon as possible.
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Educational Information
Anand attended Don Bosco Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Egmore, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, and graduated from Loyola College in Chennai with a Bachelor of Commerce degree.
He began playing chess with his mother when he was six years old, but he mastered the game’s strategies in Manila, where he resided with his parents from 1978 His father served as a consultant for the Philippine National Railways from 1970 to 1980.
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He became one of the top chess players thanks to his mother’s inspiration and support. He won the National Sub-Junior Chess Championship when he was fourteen years old.
He also won the national chess championship when he was 16 years old. He became India’s first Grandmaster at the age of 18 when he won the World Junior Chess Championship in 1897, becoming the first Indian to do so.
He possessed a Bachelor of Commerce degree and was a National Champion up to that point. He married Aruna in 1996, and they have a son together. He avoids controversy at all costs and is a really straightforward person.
Personal life
In 1996 Anand married Aruna and they had a son Anand Akhil who was born on April 9, 2011. Anand is a Hindu who claims to attend temples for the peace and pleasure they represent. He attributes his daily prayers to achieve a heightened state of mind that allows him to concentrate better while playing chess.
Anand joined the board of directors of Olympic Gold Quest in August 2010 a charity dedicated to developing and supporting India’s best athletes and young talent.
On the premises of Gujarat University, he was the honored guest of honor on December 24, 2010, as 20,486 players set a new world record for simultaneous chess play in a single location.
Reading swimming and music are three of his favorite pastimes. Anand is known for being a low-key individual who avoids political and psychological ploys in favor of concentrating on his game.
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Because of this, he has been a popular character in the chess world for the last two decades, as shown by the fact that Kasparov, Kramnik, and Carlsen are all fans. contenders for the world title throughout Anand’s career all assisted him in his preparations for the 2010 World Chess Championship.
The Tiger of Madras is a nickname for Anand. On November 7, 2010, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held a meal for US President Barack Obama and Anand was the sole sportsperson invited.
Because of a misunderstanding about Anand’s citizenship status, he was denied an honorary doctorate from the University of Hyderabad; India’s Minister of Human Resource Development Kapil Sibal later apologized and stated there is no problem with the situation since Anand has consented to receive the degree at a time that is suitable for him, based on his availability. Anand eventually turned down the Ph.D. according to The Hindu.
Awards & Achievements
- Anand is widely regarded as one of the world’s top modern chess players, with a reputation for his adaptability. He has won the World Chess Championship five times and was uncontested World No. 1 from 2007 until 2013.
- Several significant prizes have been bestowed on him. In 1991-92, he received India’s highest athletic honor, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award.
- For his accomplishments in chess, he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian honor, in 2007. He was the first Indian sportsperson to get this honor.
Early chess career
In the Indian chess world, Anand’s ascent was rapid. He had his first taste of national glory at the age of 14 when he won the sub-junior championship with a 9/9 score. Anand won the Asian Junior Championship in Coimbatore in 1984 obtaining the title of International Master (IM).
He made his debut for the Indian national team in the 26th Chess Olympiad in Thessaloniki. Anand earned his second IM norm with a total of 712 points in 11 games. At the age of 15, he became the youngest Indian to be named an International Master after he won the Asian Junior Championship for the second year in a row this time in Hong Kong.
He won the national chess championship when he was just 16 years old. He went on to win the championship a second and third time. He was a blitz player who played games quickly.
He won the World Junior Chess Championship for the first time in 1987. By winning the Shakti Finance International chess tournament in Coimbatore India at the age of 18 he became India’s first grandmaster. At the age of 18, he received the Padma Shri.
The qualification rounds for the rival FIDE and PCA world championships were dominated by Anand and Gata Kamsky in 1994–95. Anand lost his quarterfinal encounter against Kamsky in the FIDE cycle although leading early. In 1996 Kamsky was defeated by Karpov in the FIDE championship match.
In the 1995 PCA cycle, Anand went undefeated in matches against Oleg Romanishin and Michael Adams then avenged his FIDE loss in the Candidates final by beating Kamsky.
He played Kasparov in the 1995 PCA World Chess Championship at the World Trade Center in New York City. Anand won game nine with a stunning exchange sacrifice after an eight-game draw streak (a world championship match record until November 21, 2018) but then lost four of the following five games. The match ended in a 1012–712 defeat for him.
World Chess Championships
1998
The 1998 world championship featured a 100-player knockout event with each round comprising of two-game matchups and ties settled using quick and blitz games which was a significant change from prior years.
Karpov, the reigning champion was controversially placed straight into the final which took place just three days after the three-week competition ended.
Karpov benefited greatly from this format in terms of recuperation and preparation time. As a consequence both Kasparov and Kramnik decided not to play.
Is it reasonable to expect Sampras to merely play one match and defend his Wimbledon title? the latter said frankly of his absence.
Anand was seeded first in the tournament in Groningen, the Netherlands as a consequence of Kasparov’s withdrawal. After eliminating future FIDE champion Alexander Khalifman in the third round he went on to defeat Zoltan Almasi Alexei Shirov and Boris Gelfand in fast succession to progress.
On December 30, both players drew their first four games in the final against Michael Adams who was seeded ninth. An exhausted Anand won 3–2 in a sudden-death blitz game after playing 21 games in 23 days.
Anand organized a trip with his team to the International Olympic Committee Museum in Lausanne Switzerland to face Karpov in a six-game tournament for the FIDE world championship shortly after beating Adams.
After Karpov startled Anand with a daring queen sacrifice on the 31st move Anand lost Game 1 with just four hours of pre-match preparation. After accepting a quick exchange sacrifice and outplaying Karpov in the ensuing endgame he won Game 2 in 42 moves from a disadvantageous position.
Anand needed to win the last game of the series to push the match into a playoff after losing Game 4. He began with the Trompowsky Attack which he played in white. Karpov did a good job defending when he made a crucial error that cost him a piece and the game.
Anand had a substantial lead on the board in the first quick playoff game before losing the game due to a calculation error Karpov then won the second game with black to win the match 5-3 and retain the FIDE championship. Anand expressed his dissatisfaction with the tournament structure after the match.
It was almost as if after finishing a cross-country marathon I was ordered to run a 100-meter dash… Karpov patiently awaited the casket delivery of his challenger’s body.
It’ll be a world championship if someone else wins instead of Karpov. It’s not otherwise. Meanwhile, Karpov questioned Anand’s attitude, saying he doesn’t have the character to win major tournaments. Kasparov, for one, characterized the encounter as a contest between an exhausted player and an elderly one.
2000
The FIDE World Chess Championship held in New Delhi, India, and Tehran, Iran, from November 25 to December 27, 2000, was a 100-player single-elimination tournament.
Anand started the tournament as the top overall seed and one of the favorites to win with Topalov, Gelfand and Shirov after his victory in the 2000 FIDE World Cup.
After boycotting the 1999 tournament owing to continuing discussions for a championship match with Kasparov Anand opted to participate in this year’s event.
Kasparov and Kramnik who beat Kasparov earlier this year in a match for the lineal world championship did not play in the tournament. Elizbar Ubilava a Spanish grandmaster was Anand’s second and practice partner for the event.
With the help of a raucous home audience, Anand breezed through the early rounds defeating Viktor Bologan Smbat Lputian and Bartlomiej Macieja with easy ease.
He drew four straight games against reigning champion Alexander Khalifman in the quarterfinals before advancing on a 15-minute tiebreak game.
In the semifinals against Adams Anand easily drew Game 1 and then won Game 2 with white in 36 moves after Adams made a strategic error Anand advanced to the final match after two quickdraws in games 3 and 4.
The final match, which took place in Tehran from December 20 to December 26, 2000, paired Anand against fourth-seeded Shirov, who had been denied a chance to meet Kasparov for the world championship two years before.
After a draw in Game 1, Anand used a crisp Ruy Lopez line in Game 2, eventually turning a passed pawn into a winning endgame after putting Shirov in zugzwang on move 41. After neutralizing a rook sacrifice by Shirov on move 19 Anand took control of the match with a 41-move win in Game 3 and cemented the victory with a win in Game 4.
Anand was undefeated throughout the event winning eight games and drawing 12 others on his way to his first global title.
He became the first Asian world champion since Bobby Fischer, as well as the first global champion from outside the former Soviet Union. Anand got a $528,000 cash reward in addition to the title of FIDE world champion.
In appreciation of his triumph, the Indian government gave Anand the Padma Bhushan upon his return to India. Later he spoke about his battles with Khalifman and Shirov saying:
2007
Anand qualified for the 2007 World Chess Championship an eight-player double round-robin event held in Mexico City from September 12 to September 30, 2007, based on his performance in the 2005 World Chess Championship.
Following his victory against Topalov in 2006 to reunify the world championship Kramnik took Topalov’s spot in the tournament. Anand along with reigning champion Kramnik came into the event as the world’s top-ranked player.
However, with victories against Peter Svidler and Alexander Grischuk in the following three rounds, Anand broke away from the pack and took the lead.
In Round 10, he drew with Kramnik and then expanded his advantage to 112 points with a 56-move victory against Alexander Morozevich.
Anand maintained his lead in Round 13 by playing careful defense and salvaging a lost rook endgame with black against Grischuk and clinched the title in the last round with a 20-move draw against Peter Leko.
With a 2848 performance rating, Anand ended the tournament unbeaten with four wins and ten draws. His second world chess championship and the first since the title was reunified in 2006.
In October 2007, he broke the 2800 Elo rating barrier for the second time in his career by gaining nine rating points. Anand discussed his last game and sentiments about winning the championship at the post-event press conference:
There is no competing claimant this time so it’s an incredible sensation. I’m sure you can guess how I’m feeling right now. For me, this is a unique opportunity.
I think I did my greatest work here. It’s critical that you perform at the correct time—I peaked here for a reason. This competition was just fantastic…
I had to put in a lot of effort yesterday but today I recalled Tal’s advice that it never goes well when your hand plays one way and your heart plays another. So I made the decision to play it safe and go for the win.
2010
Anand was stuck due to the cancellation of all flights after the volcanic ash cloud from Eyjafjallajökull, only days before his 2010 World Chess Championship match versus Topalov.
He had been scheduled to fly to Frankfurt–Sofia on April 16th. On April 19, the Bulgarian organizers declined his request for a three-day delay.
After a 40-hour drive Anand arrived in Sofia on April 20. As a result the start of the first game was postponed one day.
A total of 12 games were played throughout the match. Topalov beat Anand in Game 1 with a razor-sharp assault that pierced Anand’s Grunfeld Defense in 30 moves.
Topalov discovered the line with the use of a sophisticated supercomputer lent to him by Bulgaria’s Defense Department during his opening preparations it was later disclosed.
Anand swiftly retaliated with a victory in Game 2, using a novelty from the Catalan Opening that computers didn’t detect at the time. In Game 4, Anand won again with the Catalan only to lose Game 8 and tie the game.
The score was 512–512 after 11 games. Anand won the game and the match on the Black side of a Queen’s Gambit Declined. Topalov accepted Anand’s pawn sacrifice in the hopes of forcing a draw and avoiding a chess tiebreak round.
However, after Topalov’s questionable 31st and 32nd moves Anand took advantage of the sacrifice to build a powerful assault against Topalov’s comparatively exposed king. Following Topalov’s resignation, Anand was able to keep his world title.
2012
The victor of the 2011 Candidates Matches Boris Gelfand was his opponent. Anand came back to win Game 8 in just 17 moves after losing Game 7 against Gelfand.
This is the fastest deciding game in the history of the World Chess Championship. After normal games, each team had one victory the match was deadlocked 6–6.
Anand won the match and retained his championship by winning the quick tiebreaker 212–112. Following the match, Russian President Vladimir Putin called both Anand and Gelfand to his official house to welcome them.
2014
Anand secured a rematch with Carlsen after winning the double round-robin FIDE Candidates tournament in Khanty-Mansiysk (13–30 March). He was unbeaten throughout the event defeating Aronian in the first round Shakhriyar Mamedyarov in the third round and Topalov in the ninth round.
His previous games, including his 12th-round encounter versus Dmitry, had all ended in draws. Andreikin in which Anand accepted to a draw in a difficult but winning position. In November he played Carlsen in a world championship match in Sochi Russia. After 11 of the 12 planned games, Carlsen won the match 6.5 to 4.5.
Viswanathan Anand Awards – Honors & Awards
- Vishwanathan Anand received the Arjuna Award in 1985.
- Vishwanathan received the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest honors, in 1987.
- In 1987, he was also given the National Citizen Award and the Soviet Land Nehru Award.
- Viswanathan Anand received the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in 1991–92. He is the first player to win the sport’s most prestigious award.
- Vishwanathan Anand received the Sports Star Millennium Award in 1998.
- Vishwanathan was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2000 for his outstanding chess skills.
- Viswanathan Anand was also honored by the Indian government with the Padma Vibhushan Award in 2007.
Viswanathan Anand’s net worth is estimated to be in the millions of dollars.
Viswanathan Anand is estimated to have a net worth of over 47 crore rupees. His own assets are up to 21 crores and he makes roughly 1 crore rupees from brand sponsorships.The World Championship, which he has won multiple times, has a prize pool of Rs. 16 crores.
His premium automobile collection is estimated to be worth $2 million. BMWs and Range Rovers are among Anand’s automobiles. In Chennai, he has a palatial home. In 2013, Viswanathan Anand was awarded a reward of $2 million. AMD India, Union Bank of India, Parle-G, Crocin, and other companies have partnered with him.
Champion of the FIDE World Rapid Chess Tournament in 2003
FIDE, the world chess governing body, held a fast time control event at Cap d’Agde in October 2003, branded as the World Rapid Chess Championship.
At the start of the game, each player got 25 minutes plus an extra 10 seconds after each move. Anand defeated Kramnik in the final to win this tournament ahead of 10 of the world’s top 12 players. Corsican (from 1999 to 2005, six seasons in a row), Chess Classic (nine years in a row from 2000 to 2008)
Leon 2005, Eurotel 2002, Fujitsu Giants 2002, and the Melody Amber 2002 are his most recent triumphs in this category. Anand did not lose a single game in the Melody Amber 2007 fast segment, scoring 812/11 two more than the runners-up for a performance rating of 2939 in the rapid phase.
Anand has more time remaining than his opponent at the conclusion of most tournament time control games that he plays. In one game he was beaten by Kamsky on time.
Otherwise, he only used the rule enabling time-pressured players to employ dashes instead of move notation during the last four minutes once, against Peter Svidler at the MTel Masters 2006.
World Rapid Chess Champion 2017 (FIDE)
After tying for first position with Fedoseev and Ian Nepomniachtchi on 10.5/15 points, Anand won the 2017 World Rapid Chess Championship by defeating Vladimir Fedoseev 2–0 in the crucial tiebreak. He won the tournament ahead of Carlsen for the first time since Carlsen beat him in the classical championship in 2013.
Viswanathan Anand: Interesting Facts
- Viswanathan Anand was awarded the NASSCOM Global Strategist Award in 2011 for mastering a variety of chess tournament formats.
- For the growth of economic, scientific, and cultural connections with Russia, the Russian government bestowed the Order of Friendship on him in 2014.
- In 2015, the Spanish embassy presented him with the highest national award for bringing honor to both India and Spain.
- Anand has won the Chess Oscar six times in a row, in 1997, 1998, 2003, 2004, 2007, and 2008.
- In 1988, Kenzo Suzuki identified a main-belt minor planet which he named Vishy on April 1, 2015, after Viswanathan Anand.
- Anand received an Rs. 2 crore incentive from the Tamil Nadu government after winning the World Championship in 2012.
- Viswanathan is a sports fanatic who enjoys tennis, golf, and cricket among other sports. He is a great admirer of Real Madrid and watches football on a daily basis.
- His long-time sports idol is Zinedine Zidane.
- Bobby Fischer has been his chess idol for as long as he can remember.
- Vishy and Tiger of Madras are nicknames for Anand.
- Padma Vibhushan is the first Indian athlete to get the honor.
- Spanish, French, and German are among Anand’s many languages.
- Anand has always wowed his peers with his sharp wit and swift movements. It’s no surprise that he was dubbed “Lightning Kid” because of his speed.
- Anand is an avid astronomy enthusiast and a versatile reader. Did you know he also enjoys history?
- Anand also works with the Olympic Gold Quest Foundation as a Director.
- In 2010, he was the lone athlete to attend Barack Obama’s dinner.
- He represents NIIT as its brand ambassador.
FAQs
Who was Viswanathan Anand’s teacher?
Susheela Viswanathan, who shaped the chess career of five-time World champion Viswanathan Anand, is regarded as a role model parent in India. Susheela began teaching her son the movements when he was five years old, and she was always there during his contests.
Viswanathan Anand speaks how many languages
Anand is a multilingual individual. He is proficient in English French German and Spanish in addition to his home tongue of Tamil. At the age of 15, he became the youngest Indian to gain the title of International Master, which he followed up with the title of National Chess Champion at the age of 16.
Viswanathan Anand is well-known for what he does.
Anand dubbed the Lightning Kid in India is noted for his fast tactical calculations which he has shown by winning multiple speed chess championships. Vishy Anand: My Best Games of Chess which he enhanced with fresh games in 2001 was released in 1998 as a compilation of his games.
Anand or Carlsen: who is the better player?
Magnus Carlsen defeated Viswanathan Anand 12 to 8 in traditional games with 50 ties. Magnus Carlsen defeated Viswanathan Anand 33-19 with 79 draws Including rapid/exhibition games. Magnus Carlsen defeated Viswanathan Anand 21-11 with 29 draws in just rapid/exhibition games.
