Viswanathan Anand is an Indian chess grandmaster and a former five-time World Chess Champion. He was born on 11 December 1969 in Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu, India. He started learning chess from age six from his mother, but he learned the intricacies of the game in Manila.
Viswanathan Anand has racked up innumerable accolades. The first World Chess Champion from Asia, Viswanathan Anand emerged onto the world stage when chess was largely dominated by Soviets, Viswanathan Anand climbed the ranks to become world No. 1, bagged five world championship titles and won tournaments across all formats of the game. A renowned ambassador of the sport like no other, Viswanathan Anand is one of the most admired names in chess.
In August 2010, Anand joined the board of directors of Olympic Gold Quest, a foundation for promoting and supporting India’s elite sportspersons and potential young talent. On 24 December 2010, he was the guest of honour on the grounds of Gujarat University, where 20,486 players created a new world record of simultaneous chess play at a single venue.
He became the first grandmaster from India in 1988, and has the eighth highest peak FIDE rating of all-time. In 2022, he was elected the deputy president of FIDE.
Viswanathan Anand is a highly sought after motivational speaker who inspires audiences by sharing his life lessons learnt through his illustrious chess career From the time Viswanathan Anand learnt to move pieces on a chess board as a six-year-old, to becoming India’s first chess grand-master and five-time world chess champion.
In his inspiring Keynote speeches Viswanathan Anand shares with the audience his unique experiences of playing against the best sporting minds, and the methods he employs to prepare for wins, cope with disappointments and, the mindset needed to become a champion. Viswanathan Anand is always applauded by the audience for his humility, authenticity and willingness to tailor his message.
In 2007, he received India’s second highest civilian award, the Padma Vibhushan, making him the first sportsperson to receive the award in Indian history. He has also won the Chess Oscar six times (1997, 1998, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008), and received the “Indian sportsperson of the year” and “Indian of the year” awards in 2012.
Viswanathan Anand joined the Board of Directors of Olympic Gold Quest in 2010, a foundation for promoting and supporting India’s elite sportspersons and potential young talent. He is known as the “One man Indian Chess revolution” whose ambition it is to be able to take chess to the grass roots level. He is a spokesperson for many causes, and is associated with Vidyasagar (an NGO for spastic and autistic children) and is very closely associated with the NIIT Mind Champions Academy.
In 1998 he received the British Chess Federation “Book of the Year” Award for his book ‘My Best Games of Chess’, which was updated in 2001.
Viswanathan Anand has authored an inspirational book ” Mind Matters” where he looks back on his experience to share lessons on how to navigate life.
