Viswanathan Anand

Viswanathan Anand, born on December eleventh, nineteen sixty-nine, is a distinguished Indian chess grandmaster and writer. Renowned for his exceptional contributions to the game, Anand became the first grandmaster from India in nineteen eighty-eight. His remarkable career includes being a five-time World Chess Champion, a two-time World Rapid Chess Champion, and a World Blitz Chess Cup Champion. In two thousand twenty-two, he was elected as the Deputy President of FIDE, further solidifying his influence in the chess community.

Anand's journey to the pinnacle of chess began with his victory over Alexei Shirov in a six-game match for the FIDE World Chess Championship in two thousand, a title he held until two thousand two. He became the undisputed world champion in two thousand seven and successfully defended his title against formidable opponents such as Vladimir Kramnik in two thousand eight, Veselin Topalov in two thousand ten, and Boris Gelfand in two thousand twelve. His reign came to an end in two thousand thirteen when he lost the title to Magnus Carlsen, followed by a rematch defeat in two thousand fourteen after winning the Candidates Tournament.

In April two thousand six, Anand made history by becoming the fourth player ever to surpass the twenty-eight hundred Elo mark on the FIDE rating list, joining the ranks of Kramnik, Topalov, and Garry Kasparov. He held the number-one position for an impressive twenty-one months, marking the sixth-longest period on record. Known for his rapid playing speed as a child, he earned the nickname 'Lightning Kid' during his early career in the nineteen eighties, and he has since evolved into a universal player, widely regarded as the greatest rapid chess player of his generation.

Throughout his illustrious career, Anand has achieved numerous accolades, including winning the FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship in two thousand three and two thousand seventeen, as well as the World Blitz Chess Cup in two thousand. He is also a two-time Chess World Cup winner, having triumphed in two thousand and two thousand two, along with many other prestigious rapid and blitz events. His contributions to chess have not gone unnoticed; he was the first recipient of the Khel Ratna Award in nineteen ninety-one to ninety-two, India's highest sporting honor, and in two thousand seven, he received the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian award, making him the first sportsperson to be honored with this distinction.