Viswanathan Anand (born 11-12-1969, Chennai) is considered one of the all-time greats in chess. His success on the world stage has transformed this ancient Indian game into a mass sport in India.

Critics rate him as one of the greatest natural talents in the history of chess. His hallmark lightning speed and intuitive play were recognized when he became India’s first Grandmaster in 1987.

In 2022, he became the only World Champion and Indian to be elected as the FIDE Deputy President. As a five-time World Champion, Anand has cemented his place among the greatest champions of all time, becoming one of the rare champions to successfully retain a World Championship title three times.

Anand is the only player in chess history to have won a World Championship title in all formats: match, knock-out, and tournament. He also became the World Rapid Champion in 2017. In 2020, he played the top board for the gold medal-winning team at the World Chess Olympiad.

As the mentor of budding Indian chess talents through the WestBridge Anand Chess Academy, Anand’s guidance and experience have immensely benefited young players. He is also a director at Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ), contributing to India’s ambition of becoming a sporting powerhouse.

Viswanathan Anand has received numerous international accolades. He is the proud recipient of the Chess Oscars, awarded to the best player of the year, six times (1997, 1998, 2003, 2004, 2007, and 2008), making him one of the few non-Russians to achieve this feat.

In India, he has been honored with prestigious civilian awards, including the Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri, and the Arjuna Award. He was also the first-ever recipient of the Khel Ratna Award.

Known as the “Gentleman Champion” in the chess world, Anand is an advocate for children with neurological challenges through Vidyasagar. He is also a passionate ambassador for WWF.

Anand is a keen follower of current affairs, world business, and astronomy. Fluent in German, Spanish, and French, his travels have taken him to nearly 50 countries. He also holds the unique distinction of having a planet named after him.