Editing Viswanathan Anand (section)

{{Short description|Indian chess grandmaster (born 1969)}}
{{hatnote group|
 {{Redirect|Vishy|the Indian cricketer|Gundappa Viswanath}}
 {{distinguish|Vichy}}
}}
{{Tamil name|Viswanathan|Anand}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name             = Viswanathan Anand
| image            = Viswanathan Anand (2016) (cropped).jpeg
| caption          = Anand in 2016
| birthname        = Anand Viswanathan<ref>{{Cite web|date=1 January 2004|title='I start off playing for India. And that's it.Beyond that, the game just takes over'|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/storyOld.php?storyId=38320&pn|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514174615/http://www.indianexpress.com/storyOld.php?storyId=38320&pn|archive-date=14 May 2011|access-date=6 August 2020|website=Indian Express}}</ref>
| birth_date       = {{Birth date and age|1969|12|11|df=yes}}
| birth_place      = [[Mayiladuthurai]], Tamil Nadu<!-- DO NOT LINK PER MOS:GEOLINK -->, India
| occupation       = [[Chess grandmaster]]
| honorific_prefix =
| organization     =
| awards           = [[#Awards|Full list]]
| spouse           = {{marriage|Aruna Anand|1996}}
| children         = Anand Akhil (son)
| module           = '''Chess career'''
 {{infobox chess player| embed = yes
 | image         = <!-- leave blank to suppress wikidata image -->
 | title         = [[Grandmaster (chess)|Grandmaster]] (1988)
 | country       = India<!-- DO NOT ADD FLAG -->
 | worldchampion = 2000–2002 (FIDE) <br />2007–2013 (Undisputed)
 | peakrating    = 2817 (March 2011)
 | peakranking   = [[List of FIDE chess world number ones|No. 1]] (April 2007)
 | FideID        = 5000017
 }}
| office           = Deputy President of [[FIDE|International Chess Federation (FIDE)]]
| president        = [[Arkady Dvorkovich]]
| term_start       = 7 August 2022
| term_end         =
| predecessor      =
| successor        =
}}

'''Viswanathan '''"'''Vishy'''"''' Anand''' (born 11 December 1969) is an Indian [[chess grandmaster]]. Anand is a five-time [[World Chess Championship|World Chess Champion]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=V. Anand|url=https://www.chessgames.com/player/viswanathan_anand.html|website=Chess games|access-date=29 December 2019|archive-date=27 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227150510/https://www.chessgames.com/player/viswanathan_anand.html|url-status=live}}</ref> a two-time [[World Rapid Chess Championship|World Rapid Chess Champion]] and a two-time [[Chess World Cup|Chess World Cup Champion]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 September 2017 |title=Viswanathan Anand returns to chess World Cup after 15 years, eyes Candidate spot |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/other-sports/viswanathan-anand-returns-to-chess-world-cup-after-15-years-eyes-candidate-spot/story-KDw0kDyGlCOUJWzvdYWsFL.html |access-date=24 April 2024 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en |archive-date=24 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240424180911/https://www.hindustantimes.com/other-sports/viswanathan-anand-returns-to-chess-world-cup-after-15-years-eyes-candidate-spot/story-KDw0kDyGlCOUJWzvdYWsFL.html |url-status=live }}</ref>  He became the first grandmaster from India in 1988, and he has the [[List of chess players by peak FIDE rating|eighth-highest peak FIDE rating of all time]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://ratings.fide.com/profile/5000017/chart |title=Anand's FIDE rating chart |access-date=3 January 2020 |archive-date=3 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103112537/https://ratings.fide.com/profile/5000017/chart |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2022, he was the elected Deputy President of [[FIDE]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/chess-russian-former-deputy-pm-dvorkovich-re-elected-fide-president-2022-08-07/ |title=Russian former deputy PM Dvorkovich re-elected chess federation president |date=7 August 2022 |work=[[Reuters]] |access-date=7 August 2022 |archive-date=7 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220807165733/https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/chess-russian-former-deputy-pm-dvorkovich-re-elected-fide-president-2022-08-07/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/chess/anand-elected-fide-vice-president-arkady-wins-second-term-8076221/ |title=Anand elected Fide vice-president, Arkady wins second term |date=7 August 2022 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |access-date=7 August 2022 |archive-date=7 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220807171150/https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/chess/anand-elected-fide-vice-president-arkady-wins-second-term-8076221/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential players in the history of the game<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shi (Rodgy) |first=Roger |date=2023-01-29 |title=The Truth About the GOAT Debate |url=https://www.chess.com/blog/Rodgy/the-truth-about-the-goat-debate |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=Chess.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Who Is The Greatest Chess Player Of All Time |url=https://chessify.me/blog/greatest-chess-players-ever |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=chessify.me |language=en}}</ref> and has had an important role in popularizing it in India.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-12-11 |title=Proud I could popularize chess in India: Viswanathan Anand |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/chess/proud-i-could-popularize-chess-in-india-viswanathan-anand/articleshow/72468341.cms |access-date=2025-02-04 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bristow (VOB96) |first=Vanessa |date=2024-05-15 |title=Viswanathan Anand. The History And Legacy Of A True Game Changer |url=https://www.chess.com/blog/TheKiwiHobbit/viswanathan-anand-the-history-and-legacy-of-a-true-game-changer |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=Chess.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

Anand defeated [[Alexei Shirov]] in a six-game match to win the [[2000 FIDE World Chess Championship]], a title he held until 2002. He became the [[World Chess Championship 2007|undisputed world champion]] in 2007 and defended his title against [[Vladimir Kramnik]] in [[World Chess Championship 2008|2008]], [[Veselin Topalov]] in [[World Chess Championship 2010|2010]], and [[Boris Gelfand]] in [[World Chess Championship 2012|2012]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://moscow2012.fide.com/en/main/11-news/408-news-final|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120602012501/http://moscow2012.fide.com/en/main/11-news/408-news-final|archive-date=2 June 2012|website=[[FIDE]]|title=Ананд сохраняет титул|trans-title=Anand retains title|lang=ru}}</ref> In [[World Chess Championship 2013|2013]], he lost the title to challenger [[Magnus Carlsen]], and he lost a rematch to Carlsen in [[World Chess Championship 2014|2014]] after winning the 2014 [[Candidates Tournament 2014|Candidates Tournament]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.chessvibes.com/candidates%E2%80%99-r13-anand-draws-clinches-rematch-with-carlsen |title=Candidates' R13: Anand Draws, Clinches Rematch with Carlsen |access-date=14 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150111220728/http://www.chessvibes.com/candidates%E2%80%99-r13-anand-draws-clinches-rematch-with-carlsen |archive-date=11 January 2015 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

In April 2006, Anand became the fourth player in history to pass the 2800 [[Elo rating system|Elo mark]] on the [[FIDE]] rating list, after Kramnik, Topalov, and [[Garry Kasparov]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chess-db.com/public/top100alltime.jsp|title=All time Top 100 Ranklist by Highest ELO Rating|website=chess-db.com|access-date=18 July 2015|archive-date=6 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306180116/http://chess-db.com/public/top100alltime.jsp|url-status=dead}}</ref> He occupied the [[List of FIDE chess world number ones|number-one position]] for 21 months, the sixth-longest period on record.

Known for his rapid playing speed as a child, Anand earned the [[sobriquet]] "'''Lightning Kid'''"<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/viswanathan-anand-the-lightning-kid/story-Yz7RlhmPIec7KwAHo3BICO.html|title = Viswanathan Anand: The Lightning Kid| work=Hindustan Times |date = 31 May 2012|access-date = 29 December 2019|archive-date = 17 November 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161117081418/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/viswanathan-anand-the-lightning-kid/story-Yz7RlhmPIec7KwAHo3BICO.html|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/20080421-lightning-kid-735953-2008-04-10|title=Lightning kid|date=10 April 2008 |access-date=29 December 2019|archive-date=29 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191229195108/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/20080421-lightning-kid-735953-2008-04-10|url-status=live}}</ref> during his early career in the 1980s. He has since developed into a universal player, and many consider him the greatest rapid chess player of his generation.<ref name="Anand world's best rapid chess player: Salgaocar">{{cite news |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newswire/story/anand-worlds-best-rapid-chess-player-salgaocar/408342 |title=Outlook India: Anand world's best rapid chess player |work=Outlook India |date=21 August 2006 |access-date=19 January 2020 |location=Panaji, India |archive-date=27 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727222112/https://www.outlookindia.com/newswire/story/anand-worlds-best-rapid-chess-player-salgaocar/408342 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Viswanathan Anand – Keynote Speaker">{{cite news|url=https://londonspeakerbureau.com/us/speaker-profile/viswanathan-anand/|title=London Speaker Bureau: Viswanathan Anand's biography|work=London Speakers Bureau|date=5 November 2012|access-date=19 January 2020|location=London, England|archive-date=28 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728005027/https://londonspeakerbureau.com/us/speaker-profile/viswanathan-anand/|url-status=live}}</ref> He won the FIDE [[World Rapid Chess Championship]] in 2003 and 2017,<ref name="Viswanathan Anand wins World Rapid Chess Championship">{{cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/sport-others/viswanathan-anand-wins-world-rapid-chess-championship-5003271/|title=Viswanathan Anand wins World Rapid Chess Championship; watch his crowning moment|work=The Indian Express|date=29 December 2017|location=Riyadh, Saudi Arabia|access-date=27 July 2020|archive-date=27 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727223150/https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/sport-others/viswanathan-anand-wins-world-rapid-chess-championship-5003271/|url-status=live}}</ref> the [[World Blitz Chess Championship#2000 World Blitz Chess Cup|World Blitz Cup]] in 2000,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chess-mate.com/warsaw.htm |title=Vishy Anand Strikes At Warsaw: Rapid King Also Blitz King|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010424165718/http://www.chess-mate.com/warsaw.htm|archive-date=24 April 2001}}</ref> and numerous other top-level rapid and blitz events.

Anand was the first recipient of the [[Khel Ratna Award]] in 1991–92, India's highest sporting honour. In 2007, he was awarded India's second-highest civilian award, the [[Padma Vibhushan]], making him the first sportsperson to receive the award.<ref name="Anand ambassador of WWF India ">{{cite news |url=https://en.chessbase.com/post/anand-ambassador-of-wwf-india |title=Anand ambassador of WWF India |work=ChessBase India |date=21 April 2020 |access-date=27 July 2020 |archive-date=17 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221117143355/https://en.chessbase.com/post/anand-ambassador-of-wwf-india |url-status=live }}</ref>