Viswanathan Anand

Viswanathan Anand was born on December 11, 1969, in Chennai, India. From an early age, he displayed exceptional talent in chess, inspired by his mother who taught him to play. His fast playing style and lightning-quick decisions earned him the nickname "The Lightning Anand".

Anand became an International Master in 1985, and in 1987 he won the World Youth Championship, which earned him the Grandmaster title. At that time, he was one of the youngest grandmasters in the world. In 1989, he won the prestigious tournament in Reims, solidifying his status as one of the best young chess players. Throughout the 1990s, Anand emerged as one of the strongest players. In 1995, he challenged Garry Kasparov for the world title in New York, but lost after an initially even battle. Nevertheless, he continued to win elite tournaments, demonstrating a universal style—capable of tactical strikes and deep strategic understanding.

In 2008, Anand won the official world title against Vladimir Kramnik in Bonn, Germany, with a convincing victory. Following his match with Topalov in 2010, he successfully defended his title in 2012 against Boris Gelfand in a tiebreak match. Despite the challenges, Anand continued to compete at the highest level, although signs of decline in his performance began to emerge during this period. In 2013, Anand defended his title against Magnus Carlsen in Chennai, but lost the match 3.5–6.5, unable to counter the positional style of the young Norwegian. With that, his era as world champion came to an end, yet he remains a chess legend and an inspiration for generations of players.

Viswanathan Anand vs. Vladimir Kramnik

Anand entered his match against Kramnik as the favorite, thanks to his consistent form throughout the year and his successes against top players. Kramnik, despite his experience as a former world champion, faced a serious challenge against the aggressive and versatile style of the Indian grandmaster. The match was played in October 2008 in Bonn, Germany. In the third game, Anand won with the black pieces, shocking the chess world with his ambitious play. In the following game with the white pieces, he struck again, increasing his lead. After several draws, Anand won the sixth game, which appeared decisive for the final outcome. Although Kramnik managed to salvage a point in the tenth game, it was too late. In the subsequent game, Anand secured a draw and eventually won the match. With this victory, Viswanathan Anand solidified his title as the undisputed world champion and demonstrated that he is one of the greatest chess players of his time.

Viswanathan Anand: 6½

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Vladimir Kramnik: 3½

Veselin Topalov

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Viswanathan Anand