Viswanathan Anand

Early Life

Viswanathan Anand was born in Madras, now Chennai, in 1969, and learned chess from his mother. His extraordinary speed of thought earned him the nickname “the Lightning Kid,” and his rise carried the hopes of a nation: in 1988 he became India’s first grandmaster, a landmark for chess in his country.

Rise to the Top

Anand reached the world elite in the early 1990s and challenged Garry Kasparov for the title in 1995, losing a hard-fought match in New York. He remained among the very best for years, winning the FIDE knockout World Championship in 2000 and a host of elite tournaments.

World Champion

Becoming undisputed champion

In 2007 Anand won the World Championship tournament in Mexico City. He removed any doubt about his status the following year by defeating Vladimir Kramnik in a match, becoming the undisputed World Champion in the format that mattered most.

Defending the crown

Anand defended his title in three successive matches — against Veselin Topalov in 2010 and Boris Gelfand in 2012, both won in dramatic fashion. His reign ended in 2013 when the young Magnus Carlsen defeated him on home soil in Chennai.

Playing Style

Anand was the great universalist of his generation, equally dangerous in razor-sharp tactics and quiet positional play, and historically among the fastest calculators the game has seen. He uniquely won world titles in tournament, knockout, and match formats — a versatility unmatched among champions.

Legacy

Admired everywhere for his modesty and sportsmanship, Anand transformed chess in India. His success inspired a generation of young players — among them the future champion Gukesh Dommaraju — and helped turn the country into a global chess powerhouse. Long after losing the title, he has remained an elite competitor and a beloved ambassador for the game.