Viswanathan Anand, from Tamil Nadu, India, developed an early passion for chess, learning intricacies under his mother’s guidance. He grew up in Chennai, honing skills that earned him the title “Lightning Kid” due to his rapid speed in decision-making. Anand’s style evolved into a universal approach, making him one of the greatest rapid chess players of his generation.

Anand’s trophy cabinet boasts of numerous titles, including five World Championships. His early victories include becoming India’s first grandmaster in 1988 and securing the World Chess Championship in 2000, 2007, 2008, 2010, and 2012, with formidable opponents like Kramnik, Topalov, and Gelfand. He also achieved the unprecedented feat of winning the World Chess Championship in all three formats: knockout, tournament, and match play.

From February 23-25th of this year, Anand participated in the German Chess Bundesliga, opting for the Classical format and achieving a solid score of 2/3 against opponents like Hikaru Nakamura and Nijat Abasov, both of whom are slated to appear at the Candidates tournament in April. Notably, Anand’s performance was highlighted by a decisive 47-move win over Abasov.

Later in the year, on June 30th, Anand clinched his 10th title at the Leon Masters. He narrowly defeated Veselin Topalov 2½−1½ in the semifinals before facing Grandmaster Jamie Santos in the final round, where he secured a 3−1 victory.

Having been a dominant figure in chess for decades, his impact transcends chess, bolstered by numerous awards and recognitions, including India’s second-highest civilian award, the Padma Vibhushan.