Viswanathan Anand Turns 54: A Look at Indian Grandmaster’s Achievements, and Top 10 Quotes

HAPPY BIRTHDAY VISWANATHAN ANAND: One of the finest chess players ever to grace the sport, former world champion Viswanathan Anand was born on this day in Tamil Nadu in 1969. Anand became the first Indian grandmaster back in 1988.  The five-time World Chess Championship winner is also the youngest Indian to clinch the title of International Master. Anand achieved this feat at the age of 15.

Anand had won the world titles in – 2000, 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2012. He even went on to become the National Chess Champion at 16. For his excellence in the sport, Anand was awarded the Chess Oscar six times-1997, 1998, 2003, 2004, 2007 and 2008. As Viswanathan Anand celebrates his 54th birthday today we take a look at some of his achievements and 10 inspirational quotes.

Viswanathan Anand’s Most Notable Achievements

1. Anand is the first Indian to earn the World Junior Chess Championship title in 1987.
2. Became the first Indian grandmaster in 1988
3. He Won the World Chess Championship five times (2000, 2002, 2007, 2008, 2010)
4. Reached a peak Elo rating of 2820, the highest in the world at the time
5. Won the FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship in 2017
6. Won the Chess World Cup in 2000 and 2005
7. Won the Tata Steel Chess Tournament five times (2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010)
8. Won the Corus Chess Tournament three times (1998, 2006, 2008)
9. Won the Linares Chess Tournament twice (1998, 2008)
10. Won the Dortmund Chess Tournament twice (1996, 2004)
11. Won the Wijk aan Zee Chess Tournament twice (1998, 2003)
12. Won the Grand Slam Chess Tournament in 2012
13. Apart from innumerable chess titles, he has also won prestigious awards like the Padma Shri, Arjuna Award, Padma Bhushan and the Padma Vibhushan.

10 Quotes By Viswanathan Anand

1. “I don’t know exactly how many lines he’s established, but you get the impression that for the last 10 years we’ve only been using his ideas,” Viswanathan Anand on Vladimir Kramnik.
2. “Magnus [Carlsen] has many good qualities… he is very versatile and he can play a lot of positions at a very high level. He’s also very flexible. And he has this amazing talent for grinding on, as you say. So that combination I was unable to deal with.”
3. “I compartmentalise my beliefs strictly. I mean, I believe in God because it makes me happy and/or gives me some comfort. But I have long since… this idea that God is going to make a difference to my chess games… I simply do not follow that seriously anymore. But still, if I get into a really bad position, I might silently [pray]. It’s almost a habit rather than a thing,” Anand told Forbes.
4. “That’s [mentoring promising chess players] certainly something I will do, but I do multiple projects now and I like it this way. I am the deputy president of FIDE, I am with Olympic Gold Quest; I am a board director there. For the moment that seems very enjoyable,” Anand said during an interaction with Forbes
5. “A win is a win, which is about that particular moment.”
6. “There are mistakes that happen. It is frustrating, but you keep trying to get better,” Anand told The Week in an exclusive interview.
7. “No, every tournament is rated, but the point is, in the World Championship… I have won it five times. That is enough. I need to move on,” the Indian grandmaster told The Week.
8. “There is always the risk of being over-confident when you are preparing to face a weaker player.”
9. “If revenge motivates you, go for it! But the main thing is to set your game in order.”
10. “Your talent tells you that you’re cut out for something. It points you towards what you can do effortlessly and what your potential career could be. However, talent isn’t everything. Knowledge and growth don’t come easily. You have to be willing to put in the hours and the effort, sometimes even without visible progress, because one day, unexpectedly, the results will flower”- This quote is from Anand’s book, Mind Master.