Viswanathan Anand (commonly called “Vishy”) is one of the best Indian Chess players to ever play the game with current FIDE ratings over 2700, making him one of the few players on the list of Chess Super Grandmasters. For more information on FIDE ratings, see the step-by-step guide on how to get a FIDE rating.
Last Updated: May 16th, 2022
Name: Viswanathan Anand
Nick Name: Vishy
Place of birth: Chennai
Date of birth: 11th December 1969
Country: India
Current Title: Grand Master
Current ELO Rating: 2788
Profiles
Biography
Viswanathan Anand is the current FIDE World chess champion. Anand won the undisputed world chess championship in 2007. He also retained it after defeating Vladimir Kramnik, in 2008.
Anand is the best chess player to come from India and has played a big role in the development of the game in India. Anand is only the fourth player in the history of Chess to score 2800 ELO points. Anand is also one of the best blitz and bullet players in the world.
The Beginning
Anand learned the basics of chess from his mother Susheela. He came into the prominence at national level in India with his National Sub-Junior Chess Championship victory. He became an International Master, when he was only 15 years old. He won three national chess championships in India. Anand’s first international success came at World Junior Chess championship in 1987 at the age of 18.
Achievements
The Arab-Asian International Chess Championship held in 1986 was the first International tournament success for Anand at senior level. In 1988, he became the first Indian to become a Grand Master, when he won the Shakti Finance International Chess tournament held at Coimbatore, at the age of 18.
Anand won the Hoogovens Chess tournament in 1988. Anand made his name at the top level at the start of 1990’s. He won the Manchester chess festival in 1990.
In 1991, Anand made it to the quarterfinals of the World Chess Championship held at Brussels, in 1991. He won the Reggio Emilia chess tournament leaving behind the top players like Garry Kasparov as well as Anatoly Karpov, in 1992.
Anand beat Vassily Ivanchuk in Linares match in that year. Anand made it to the Candidates tournament, which comes under World Chess championship cycle for 1993. He went out of the quarterfinals.
Anand went out in the quarterfinal stage of qualifying cycle of 1996 FIDE world chess championships in 1994 after losing to Kamsky. Anand redeemed himself by winning the 1995 PCA cycle candidates final as he beat Gata Kamsky.
Anand faced Garry Kasparov in the 1995 PCA World Chess Championship. Anand lost the title match to Kasparov with a score line of 10.5-7.5. Anand finished runner up in the 1998 FIDE World chess championship. In 2000, Anand became FIDE World Chess champion when he overcame Alexei Shirov with a score line 3.5-0.5 in the Final of Tehran FIDE World Chess Championship.
Anand is the first Indian to achieve the feat. He could not retain as he lost the final of 2002 FIDE knockout tournament in Hyderabad. Anand won World Blitz Chess cup in 2000 with 0.5-point lead. Anand won the 2003 FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship after defeating Kramnik in the final.
Anand finished shared runner-up at the 2005 FIDE World championship held at San Luis. In 2007, Anand won the double round-round format FIFA World Championship at Mexico City with 9 points. Anand was the first undisputed champion since 1948.
In 2008, Anand retained his title after defeating Kramnik at the World Chess Championship held in Germany.
Anand has won Rapid Chess Classic in Mains 11 times. He has won Magistral Ciud de Leon Chess 7 times. He has won Melody Amber tournament in Monaco, Corus chess tournament, and Corsica Masters in Bastia 5 times each. Anand has won several other international tournaments in various categories. Anand received Chess Oscar in 1997, 1998, 2003, 2004, 2007 as well as 2008.
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