Viswanathan Anand
GM · India · born 1969 · peak 2817
Photo: Wolfgang Jekel / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
The 'Tiger of Madras', five-time World Champion and father of Indian chess.
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Roast Viswanathan on chess.com →Who is Viswanathan Anand?
Viswanathan Anand is an Indian grandmaster and five-time World Chess Champion. A pioneer who inspired the entire generation of Indian stars (Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa and more), he was one of the fastest and most universal players ever.
Playing style
Anand is famous for his speed and clarity - he calculates lightning-fast and plays a universal style, equally comfortable attacking or grinding. His rapid and blitz play is legendary.
Signature openings
- Sicilian Najdorf
- Ruy Lopez
- Queen's Gambit Declined
- Semi-Slav Defense
Career highlights
- World Chess Champion (2000, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012)
- First grandmaster from India
- World Rapid Champion and multiple-time world #1
- Mentor to the new wave of Indian super-talents
What you can learn from Viswanathan
Quick, clear decisions beat slow second-guessing. Anand trusts his calculation and moves on. Train your pattern recognition so good moves come fast.
Did you know?
- Nicknamed the 'Lightning Kid' for his blazing fast play in his youth.
- His success sparked India's chess boom - now home to several teenage 2700+ GMs.
- Known for being one of the most gracious and popular champions in history.
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