Viswanathan Anand is one of the very few players who have actually helped sports regain their prominence. The game of Chess, which was not as popular among Indians, as it was before was back to every home after Vishy, as Viswanathan Anand is popularly known, made an entry.

Born in Chennai on December 11th 1969, Anand started chess training at the age of six from his mother, Susheela. At the age of 14, Viswanathan Anand won the National Sub Juniors Championship in 1983 and was given the title of the ‘Lightening Kid’ for his speedy play.

Vishy did his schooling in Don Bosco and earned a degree in commerce from Loyola, Chennai. His favorite chess personalities include Mikhail Nekhemievich Tal and Bobby Fischer.

Anand has the credit of winning the strongest knock out tournament in Groningen in December 1997 and the Linares super Torneo in 1998 and this chess player from India has been ranked as the second best chess player in the world according to the rating lists of PCA and FIDE.

Viswanathan Anand was felicitated with the Arjuna award in 1985, Padma Sri, National Citizen’s award, Soviet Land Nehru award in 1987, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in 1991-1992, Padma Bhushan in 2000, and Chess Oscar in 1997, 1998, 2003 and 2004. The British Chess Federation also felicitated Anand for his book ‘My Best Games of Chess’ in 1998.

Viswanathan Anand has been a great influence and idol for many budding players and is of the view that young entrants to the game of chess should be more aggressive and learn chess from the games of great players.

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