Viswanathan Anand

The Boy Who Beat the Clock

Trigger moment: At age 6, Anand saw a chess set at his brother's house and learned the moves in minutes. By 14, he was national sub-junior champion.

Turning point: In 1987, at 17, he won the Asian Junior Championship, earning the International Master title. The next year, he became India's first grandmaster at 18—a feat that made front-page news.

Politics & pressure: In the 1990s, Indian chess was dominated by Soviet-trained players. Anand faced skepticism: "Can an Indian really compete with Russians?" He proved them wrong by winning the 1991 Reggio Emilia tournament ahead of Garry Kasparov.

The World Champion's Journey

Emotional beginning: Anand's first world title (FIDE, 2000) was a relief—he had been a top contender for years. But the real test came in 2008 when he defeated Vladimir Kramnik in Bonn, unifying the world championship.

Peak & setback: He defended his title three times (2008, 2010, 2012) but lost to Magnus Carlsen in 2013. The defeat was crushing—Anand admitted he was "outplayed in every department."

Comeback: At 44, he won the 2014 Candidates Tournament, earning a rematch with Carlsen. Though he lost again, his resilience earned global respect.

Emotional end: Anand's last world championship match was in 2014. He now mentors young Indian GMs like Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa, saying, "My job is to make sure they don't repeat my mistakes."

Legacy

• First Indian GM (1988)
• Five-time world champion (2000, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012)
• Padma Vibhushan (2007)
• Inspired the "Anand effect" – a surge in Indian chess participation

> "Anand didn't just win titles; he changed the way India sees chess." – Garry Kasparov