Viswanathan Anand was born on December 11, 1969, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Taught chess by his mother Sushila at age six, Anand developed a famously rapid tactical calculation style that earned him the nickname the 'Tiger of Madras'.
Anand transformed Indian chess, putting the nation on the global map and inspiring generations of grandmasters.
His key strengths include:
His multiple world championship titles and decades spent among the world's elite top-10 rankings cemented his legendary status.
1969 — Born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
1988 — Became India's first Grandmaster
2000/2007/2008/2010/2012 — Crowned FIDE World Chess Champion five times
2007 — Conferred with the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian award
Viswanathan Anand is the founding father of the modern Indian chess revolution.
His enduring wisdom, sportsmanship, and mentorship continue to guide the golden generation of Indian chess prodigies.
Age: 56
Gender: Male
Photo: Wolfgang Jekel · CC BY 2.0 · Source
