Viswanathan Anand

This article is an extract from the chess website bestofchess.com.... you can read the full article by clicking on the link below.The name Anand means Happiness in Sanskrit. People with this name present idealistic nature and are excellent at analytical skills that require concentration. Viswanathan Anand, five times undisputable world chess champion was born on December 11th, 1969 in Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu, India. His father Viswanathan Iyer retired from being a general manager of the southern Railways and his mother was a house wife, influential socialite and chess player. He also has both elder brother and sister. He learned to play chess when he was six years old which his mother Susheela Viswanathan who not only introduced him into chess but nurtured his interest and supported him to pursue his passion. He was first noticed at local chess club by his rapid playing speed which made him recognized as a “Lightning kid”. He later became the first player in world chess history to have won the World Championship in knockout, tournament, and match formats and also the rapid time control tournament, World rapid chess championship in 2003. During his childhood his family moved to Philippines briefly in late 70s.In pursuit of following his interest in playing chess and advancing his skills, he started solving chess puzzles for daily TV show aired on Philippine’s national channel. With his mother’s help and support, he won almost all the prizesto the extent; they have contacted him to request him not to participate anymore so others will have a chance of winning the game. Soon after when his family moved back to Chennai where he grew up, he became India’s first Grandmaster (GM) in 1988after winning the Shakti Finance International chess tournament at the age of eighteen.

In spite of the fact that he was recognized in the Indian chess world at very young age of fourteen when he won the National Sub-Junior chess championship in 1983 with perfect score of nine out of nine. Then he became the youngest Asian winning the title of International Master in the following year 1984, he then had to play several years of challenging sequence of knockout matches in order to become five times World chess champion.

When he qualified for his first Candidates tournament in 1993 he lost in quarterfinal to Anatoly Karpov of Russia, and then again losing quarter final match to GataKamsky, Soviet born American in 1995.During this period his patience, determination and perseverance to win finally made him World Chess Championship in 2000 at age of thirty-one by defeating Alexei Shirov of Russia in the final match of knockout tournament.

In the following years of his career he won the title of World chess champion no less than four more times in 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2012.

In the 2012 World chess championship tournamentwas held and he did not only win the championship but played the shortest game in the history of the World chess championship event by finishing his 8th game in only 17 moves against Boris Gelfand of Israel. The game was held in Tretyakov gallery, Moscow from 10th to 30th May.  He defended the title, having gained it in 2007, against Vladimir Kramnik in 2008 and Veselin Topalov in 2010.

He lost his place of World chess champion in 2013 to Magnus Carlsen of Norway. It was held on November from 9th to 22nd in Chennai, India. After playing successful rounds defeating his opponents in the 2014 tournaments he recently participated in. Carlsen and Anand will have a re-match against each other in November at the final match of World chess championship 2014.

Nanda is one of the very few people who have been awarded the most civilian honors in India including the highest sporting award rajiv Gandhi Knelratna in1991, youngest recipient of Pdma Shri award for his achievements in chess (sport). Also he was awarded third civilian honour padma Bhushan for his service to the Indian Nation in 2000 after winning the world chess championship

Not only in India has Anand been awarded the highest civilian award, Jameo de oroâin in Spain where he lives with his family, wife Aruna and son akhil. Regardless of all his Achievement and all the awards he has been receipted of, Anand has always been focused on his game and an active supporter of any potential rising young talent to take after him and his successors.

His life as a chess player is remarkable being among one of the four players in history to break 2800 rating mark and continues to be a top performer since 1997. His success started early in life, in 1983 he had won the national junior championship at 14 years. At the age of 16 years he participated in India national championship tournament which he took the title.  He became India’s first grandmaster when he was 18 years. He has received many awards including; Arjuna for outstanding sportsman in chess in 1985, Padma Shri, National citizens awards and soviet land Nehru award in 1987,india heist sporting award hournor in the year 1991-1992,Padma Bhushan in 2000 and British chess federation ’book of the year’ award in 1998. He won the Oscars in the year 1997, 1998, 2003 and 2004 which are awards for the best chess player in the year after worldwide polls.

He will be receiving his Doctorate after a controversy had occurred over his citizenship. His Nationality is India even after staying in Spain for some time. Ministry of Human Resource Development in The Country apologized for the embracement. He holds Bachelors of commerce from Loyola College, Chennai. Foundation for promoting and supporting young talent is one of the organizations he is involved with, being in the board of directors. On social media he is known as; tweeter vishy64theking and facebook is known as Viswanathan Anand.  In his free time he likes to read, swim and listen to music.  He has also written books on chess that help reader understand chess and learn chess effectively. Viswanathan is committed and focused with his daily life and especially when he is playing chess and this has earned a lot of respect and honor from funs and the players.