Viswanathan Anand
Five-time world chess champion and India’s first grandmaster
- Age
- 56 yrs
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- Most recent 2007
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Viswanathan Anand is a chess grandmaster who was world champion five times and India’s first grandmaster. Famous for his speed of play, he inspired India’s chess boom and has mentored a new generation of champions, including Gukesh D.
Biography
The Lightning Kid
Anand learnt chess from his mother in Madras and spent part of his childhood in Manila, where he solved puzzles on a television chess programme. Known for playing extremely quickly, he became the youngest Indian to win the International Master title and won the World Junior Championship in 1987.
India’s first grandmaster
In 1988 Anand became India’s first grandmaster. He rose into the world’s top five and challenged Garry Kasparov for the PCA world title in 1995, losing in New York.
World champion
He won the FIDE world title in 2000 and became undisputed world champion in 2007, then defended the title against Vladimir Kramnik (2008), Veselin Topalov (2010) and Boris Gelfand (2012) before losing to Magnus Carlsen in Chennai in 2013. He won world championships in classical, rapid and knockout formats.
Inspiration
Anand received the first Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna in 1991–92 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2007. He became deputy president of FIDE in 2022 and mentors young players through the WestBridge Anand Chess Academy; India’s rise to chess superpower status, including Gukesh D’s world title, is widely credited to his example.
Why they matter
Before Anand, India — the land where chess is believed to have originated — had no grandmasters at all. He became the first in 1988 and went on to win world titles in every format. His real legacy is the chess explosion that followed: India now has more than 80 grandmasters, won the Chess Olympiad in 2024, and produced a world champion in Gukesh D. Many of these players trained at the academy that bears his name or grew up watching him on television. Few athletes in any sport have created an entire national tradition.
Timeline
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1969
Born in Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu
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1987
World Junior Champion
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1988
India’s first grandmaster
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1992
First Khel Ratna
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1995
Challenges Kasparov for the PCA title
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2000
FIDE World Champion
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2007
Undisputed World Champion; Padma Vibhushan
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2013
Loses title to Magnus Carlsen
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2022
FIDE deputy president
Awards and honours
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Arjuna Award
1985
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Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna
1992 · The first recipient.
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Padma Bhushan
2000
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Padma Vibhushan
2007
Did you know?
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1
He learnt chess from his mother.
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2
He was the first recipient of India’s highest sports award.
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3
An asteroid, 4538 Vishyanand, is named after him.
Connections
Frequently asked
Who is Viswanathan Anand?
Viswanathan Anand is a chess grandmaster who was world champion five times and India’s first grandmaster. Famous for his speed of play, he inspired India’s chess boom and has mentored a new generation of champions, including Gukesh D.
How old is Viswanathan Anand?
Viswanathan Anand is 56 years old, born on 11 December 1969 in Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu.
Where is Viswanathan Anand from?
Viswanathan Anand was born in Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu.
What is Viswanathan Anand known for?
Viswanathan Anand is best known for World Chess Champion 2000 and 2007–2013; India’s first grandmaster.
What awards has Viswanathan Anand received?
Notable honours include Arjuna Award (1985), Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (1992), Padma Bhushan (2000), Padma Vibhushan (2007).
References
- Viswanathan Anand — Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Viswanathan Anand — Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Viswanathan Anand — IMDb. IMDb. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Viswanathan Anand — Hindi Wikipedia. Wikipedia (Hindi). Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Viswanathan Anand (Q45747) — structured data. Wikidata. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
Includes material from the Wikipedia article “Viswanathan Anand”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. That text is available under the same licence. Learn more
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About this profile
- Researched by the TrackFame editorial team; reviewed by Sanjay Sokal under our editorial policy
- First published 27 October 2026
- Last updated
Cite this page
“Viswanathan Anand.” TrackFame, last updated 28 October 2026. https://trackfame.com/person/viswanathan-anand
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