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Viswanathan Anand facts for kids

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In this Tamil name, there is no surname or family name. The name Viswanathan is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Anand.
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Viswanathan Anand
Viswanathan Anand (2016) (cropped).jpeg
Anand in 2016
Deputy President of International Chess Federation (FIDE)
Assumed office
7 August 2022
President Arkady Dvorkovich
Personal details
Born
Anand Viswanathan

(1969-12-11) 11 December 1969 (age 55)
Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu, India
Spouse
Aruna Anand
​
(m. 1996)​
Children Anand Akhil (son)
Occupation Chess grandmaster
Awards Full list
Chess career
Viswanathan Anand
Country India
Title Grandmaster (1988)
World Champion 2000–2002 (FIDE)
2007–2013 (Undisputed)
FIDE rating 2753 (August 2025)
Peak rating 2817 (March 2011)
Peak ranking No. 1 (April 2007)

Viswanathan "Vishy" Anand (born 11 December 1969) is a famous Indian chess grandmaster. A grandmaster is the highest title a chess player can earn, besides being World Champion. Anand is known for being a five-time World Chess Champion. He also won the World Rapid Chess Championship twice and the Chess World Cup twice.

Anand made history in 1988 when he became the first grandmaster from India. Many people consider him one of the greatest chess players ever. He has also helped make chess very popular in India. In 2022, he was chosen as the Deputy President of FIDE, which is the world's chess organization.

Anand first won the FIDE World Chess Championship in 2000. He held that title until 2002. Later, he became the undisputed world champion in 2007. He successfully defended his title three times against other top players. In 2013, he lost his title to Magnus Carlsen. He played Carlsen again in 2014 but lost that match too.

In 2006, Anand became one of only four players to reach an Elo rating of over 2800 points. This is a very high score that shows how strong a player is. He was ranked number one in the world for 21 months, which is one of the longest times anyone has held that spot.

When he was young, Anand was known for playing chess very quickly. People even called him the "Lightning Kid." He is still considered one of the best rapid chess players of his time. He won the World Rapid Chess Championship in 2003 and again in 2017.

Anand has received many top awards in India. He was the first person to get the Khel Ratna Award in 1991–92, which is India's highest sports honor. In 2007, he received the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian award, becoming the first sportsperson to do so.

Anand's Early Life

Viswanathan Anand was born on 11 December 1969 in Mayiladuthurai, India. He later moved to Chennai, where he grew up. His father, Viswanathan Iyer, worked for the railways. His mother, Sushila, loved chess and taught Anand the game when he was six years old.

Anand is the youngest of three children. He has an older brother and an older sister. He learned more about chess in Manila, Philippines, where his family lived for a few years. He went to school in Chennai and earned a degree in Commerce.

Life Outside Chess

Anand married Aruna in 1996. They have a son named Anand Akhil, who was born in 2011.

Anand is a Hindu and finds peace visiting temples. He believes his daily prayers help him focus better during chess games.

In 2010, Anand joined the board of Olympic Gold Quest. This group helps support India's best athletes and young talents. He also helped set a world record for the most people playing chess at one time in 2010.

Anand enjoys reading, swimming, and listening to music. He is known for being a humble person who focuses on his game rather than mind games. This has made him very popular in the chess world. Even his rivals, like Garry Kasparov, Vladimir Kramnik, and Magnus Carlsen, have helped him prepare for championships. He is sometimes called the "Tiger of Madras."

Anand's Rise in Chess

Anand quickly became a star in Indian chess. In 1983, at age 14, he won the sub-junior championship. He won the Asian Junior Chess Championship twice, becoming an International Master (IM) at 15. At 16, he became the national chess champion.

In 1987, Anand was the first Indian to win the World Junior Chess Championship. A year later, in 1988, he became India's first grandmaster at just 18 years old. He was also given the Padma Shri award at that young age.

Viswanathan Anand 1992 Manila
Anand at the Manila 1992 Olympiad, aged 22

Anand first reached the Candidates Tournament in 1993. This tournament helps decide who will challenge for the World Championship. He played in the PCA World Chess Championship 1995 against Garry Kasparov at the World Trade Center in New York City. After many draws, Anand won one game but eventually lost the match.

In 1998, Anand played for the FIDE World Championship against Anatoly Karpov. The tournament format was controversial because Karpov, the champion, got to skip many rounds. Even though Anand was tired from playing many games, he managed to draw the regular match. However, he lost in the rapid playoff games.

World Chess Championships

1995 World Championship Match

In 1995, Anand played against Garry Kasparov for the world championship. The match was held in New York City. It started with a record eight draws in a row. Anand won game nine, but then Kasparov won four of the next five games. Anand lost the match 10½–7½.

Kasparov later said that Anand's chess preparation was excellent, but his psychological approach to such a long and important match might not have been right.

1998 World Championship Match

The 1998 FIDE World Championship was a knockout tournament. The defending champion, Anatoly Karpov, was placed directly into the final match. This gave Karpov a big advantage in rest and preparation. Anand won the tournament to reach the final.

Anand then faced Karpov for the championship. Despite the unfair setup, Anand managed to draw the regular six-game match. However, Karpov won the rapid playoff games 2–0, keeping his title. Anand felt it was unfair, saying he was "brought in a coffin" to play Karpov.

2000 World Championship Victory

In 2000, the FIDE World Chess Championship was a knockout tournament held in India and Iran. Anand was the top player entering the event. Other strong players like Veselin Topalov and Boris Gelfand also competed.

Anand played very well, winning games and drawing others to stay unbeaten. In the semifinals, he defeated Michael Adams. In the final match, Anand played against Alexei Shirov. Anand won the match 3½–½, becoming the FIDE World Chess Champion. He was the first world champion from outside the former Soviet Union since Bobby Fischer.

After his victory, Anand received the Padma Bhushan award from the Indian government. He said the tiebreaker against Alexander Khalifman in the quarterfinals was very exciting.

2007 World Championship Victory

Anand qualified for the 2007 World Chess Championship, which was a tournament with eight top players. It was held in Mexico City. Anand was the world's top-ranked player and a favorite to win.

Anand played an amazing tournament, winning four games and drawing ten. He was the only player to remain undefeated. He secured the championship in the final round. This was his second world chess championship, and it was special because it was the first time the world title was unified since 2006. Anand said it was a "fantastic feeling" and that he played his best.

2008 World Championship Defense

Anand successfully defended his title in 2008 against Vladimir Kramnik in Bonn, Germany. The match was set for 12 games, and the first player to reach 6½ points would win. Anand won by scoring 6½ points in just 11 games. He won three of the first six games, including two with the black pieces.

In the 11th game, Kramnik offered a draw, and Anand accepted, winning the match. Garry Kasparov praised Anand's win, saying he "deserved the win in every way."

2010 World Championship Defense

Before his 2010 World Chess Championship match against Veselin Topalov, Anand faced a challenge outside of chess. His flight was canceled due to a volcano ash cloud in Iceland. He had to travel for 40 hours by road to reach Sofia, Bulgaria, where the match was held. The first game was delayed by one day.

Topalov won the first game with a sharp attack. But Anand quickly fought back, winning Game 2 and Game 4. After 11 games, the score was tied. In the final Game 12, Anand won with the black pieces, keeping his world championship title.

2012 World Championship Defense

Anand defended his title again in the 2012 World Chess Championship in Moscow. His opponent was Boris Gelfand. After losing Game 7, Anand made a strong comeback, winning Game 8 in only 17 moves. This was the shortest decisive game in World Chess Championship history.

The match was tied after 12 regular games. Anand then won the rapid tiebreak games 2½–1½ to keep his title. After the match, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with both Anand and Gelfand.

2013 World Championship Loss

Anand lost his world title in the 2013 World Chess Championship in his hometown of Chennai, India. He played against Magnus Carlsen, who had won the Candidates Tournament. Carlsen won Games 5, 6, and 9. The match ended after 10 games, with Carlsen becoming the new world champion.

2014 World Championship Rematch

Anand won the Candidates Tournament in 2014, earning a rematch against Magnus Carlsen. He played the tournament without losing a single game. He faced Carlsen again in Sochi, Russia, in November. Carlsen won the rematch 6½ to 4½ after 11 games.

World Rapid Chess Champion 2003

In 2003, FIDE organized a rapid chess tournament called the World Rapid Chess Championship. In rapid chess, players have less time for their moves. Anand won this event, beating Vladimir Kramnik in the final. He is known for playing quickly and has won many other rapid and blitz (even faster) chess events.

World Rapid Chess Champion 2017

Anand won the 2017 World Rapid Chess Championship in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He tied for first place and then won the tiebreak against Vladimir Fedoseev. This was a big victory for Anand, as it was his first world championship win since losing the classical title to Carlsen in 2013.

Recent Chess Career (2010-2024)

2010-2012 Highlights

  • 2010 Sofia World Chess Championship: Anand defended his title against Veselin Topalov, winning the final game to secure the match.
  • 2011 Tata Steel Chess Tournament: He finished 2nd in this major tournament.
  • 2012 Moscow World Chess Championship: Anand kept his title by defeating Boris Gelfand in a rapid tiebreak after a tied classical match.

2013-2015 Highlights

  • 2013 GRENKE Chess Classic: Anand won this tournament in Germany.
  • 2013 Chennai World Chess Championship: He lost his world title to Magnus Carlsen.
  • 2014 Candidates Tournament: Anand won this important tournament, earning a rematch for the world title.
  • 2014 Sochi World Chess Championship: He played Carlsen again but lost the rematch.
  • 2014 London Chess Classic: Anand won this tournament on a tie-break.
  • 2015 Norway Chess: He finished 2nd in this strong tournament, even beating Magnus Carlsen in one game.

2016-2018 Highlights

  • 2016 Candidates Tournament: Anand finished in shared second place, just behind the winner.
  • 2016 Leon Chess Masters Rapid Tournament: He won this rapid tournament.
  • 2017 World Rapid Chess Championship: Anand won this world title again.
  • 2018 Tal Memorial Rapid: He won this rapid tournament.
  • 2018 Tata Steel India Rapid & Blitz: Anand won the blitz part of this event.

2019-2024 Highlights

  • 2019 Tata Steel Masters: He finished in third place in this strong tournament.
  • 2020 Online Chess Olympiad: Anand was part of the Indian team that was declared joint winners with Russia.
  • 2022 Norway Chess: Anand defeated Magnus Carlsen in a blitz game for the first time in almost five years. He finished third in the main classical event.
  • 2024 German Chess Bundesliga: Anand played well, scoring 2 out of 3 games against top players.
  • 2024 Leon Masters: He won this tournament for the 10th time in his career.

Anand's Chess Style

Chess experts describe Anand as a very flexible player. He is the only player to have won the world chess championship in different formats: tournament, match, and knockout. He also won titles in rapid chess.

Vladimir Kramnik, another great chess player, has called Anand a "colossal talent." He believes Anand is one of the greatest players in chess history. Kramnik also said that Anand was in "fantastic form" when he defeated him in the 2008 World Championship.

FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov said Anand's win in the 2014 Candidates Tournament showed he is "one of the strongest and greatest players of modern times."

Anand has played many games against other top players. Against Garry Kasparov, Anand has a losing record in classical games. He also has a losing record against Magnus Carlsen. However, against Vladimir Kramnik, their classical games are evenly matched, with both players winning the same number of games.

Major Tournament Wins

Classical Tournaments

  • 1987 Sakthi Finance Grandmasters Chess Tournament
  • 1991–1992 Reggio Emilia Chess Tournament
  • 1996 Dortmunder Schachtage (tied with Kramnik)
  • 1998 Linares Chess Tournament
  • 2000 FIDE World Cup
  • 2003 Corus Chess Tournament
  • 2004 Corus Chess Tournament
  • 2004 Dortmunder Schachtage
  • 2006 Corus Chess Tournament (tied with Topalov)
  • 2007 Linares Chess Tournament
  • 2007 FIDE World Championship Tournament
  • 2008 Linares Chess Tournament
  • 2013 Grenke Chess Classic
  • 2014 Candidates Tournament
  • 2014 Bilbao Chess Masters Final
  • 2014 London Chess Classic
  • 2015 Zurich Chess Challenge (classical section)

Rapid and Exhibition Tournaments

  • 1994 Melody Amber Tournament
  • 1997 Melody Amber Tournament
  • 1998 Chess Classic Rapid Championship
  • 2000 Corsica Masters Knockout (Rapid)
  • 2003 FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship
  • 2005 Leon Magistral de Ajedrez
  • 2007 Mainz World Rapid Chess Championship
  • 2008 Mainz World Rapid Chess Championship
  • 2011 Corsica Masters Knockout (Rapid)
  • 2016 Leon Chess Masters Rapid Tournament
  • 2017 World Rapid Chess Championship
  • 2018 Tal Memorial Rapid
  • 2018 Tata Steel India Rapid & Blitz Tournament (Blitz)
  • 2024 Leon Masters

Awards and Honors

The President, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil presenting the Padma Vibhushan to Shri Viswanathan Anand at Civil Investiture-II Ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on May 10, 2008
The President, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil presenting the Padma Vibhushan to Shri Viswanathan Anand in 2008

Anand has received many important awards in India and around the world.

Indian National Honors

  • Arjuna Award (1985): For outstanding Indian sportspersons.
  • Padma Shri (1988): A high civilian award from the Government of India.
  • Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award (1991–1992): India's highest sporting honor.
  • Padma Bhushan (2001): India's third-highest civilian award.
  • Padma Vibhushan (2008): India's second-highest civilian award.

Other Honors

  • Chess Oscar (six times): Awarded to the best player of the year based on a worldwide poll.
  • "Global Strategist Award" (2011): For mastering different chess championship formats.
  • Order of Friendship (2014): A Russian award for developing ties with Russia.
  • 4538 Vishyanand: A minor planet named after him in 2015.

Charity Work

Anand has also used his fame to help others. He took part in a charity chess event called "Checkmate COVID." He and other Indian Grandmasters played online against 100 opponents to raise money for COVID-19 relief. This effort raised over $50,000 for the Red Cross India and the All India Chess Federation's "Checkmate COVID" initiative.

Famous Games

Anand has played many memorable games. Here are a few examples that show his brilliant chess skills:

  • Anand vs. Bologan, 2000 World Championship: Anand found a clever sacrifice that led to a winning attack, even when his position looked difficult.
Anand vs. Bologan, New Delhi 2000
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  • Aronian vs. Anand, 2013 Tata Steel Chess Tournament: Anand played an amazing attacking game, sacrificing several pieces to create a powerful attack against his opponent's king. This game is often called his "immortal game."
Aronian vs Anand, Wijk aan Zee 2013
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Position after 23.Be3
  • Karjakin vs. Anand, 2006 Corus Chess Tournament: Anand used a blunder by his opponent to sacrifice both a bishop and a knight. He then launched a strong attack with his rook and queen, leading to a checkmate.
Karjakin vs. Anand, Wijk aan Zee 2006
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Position after 37.Qc4+
  • Anand vs. Topalov, 2010 World Chess Championship, Game 4: Anand used a normally quiet opening to create a deadly attack. He sacrificed a knight to break through Topalov's defenses and attack his king.
Anand vs Topalov, World Chess Championship 2010
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See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Viswanathan Anand para niños

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