Viswanathan Anand

Viswanathan Anand, often referred to as Vishy, is widely regarded as one of the most consistent and influential performers in modern chess. After becoming India's first Grandmaster in 1988, he quickly gained international recognition for his lightning-fast calculations and innate positional understanding. This earned him the nickname the Lightning Kid, reflecting his remarkable skill in rapid time controls that continues to amaze fans worldwide.
Beyond his triumphs in iconic events like Linares and Wijk aan Zee, Anand has also showcased exceptional skill in numerous other top-tier tournaments. He secured multiple victories at the Dortmund Sparkassen Chess Meeting, repeatedly displaying strong form against elite opponents. At the Monaco Amber Rapid and Blindfold tournaments, his quick tactical prowess allowed him to dominate both formats, earning him several titles. Furthermore, his performance at events such as the Tal Memorial in Moscow and the Mainz Chess Classic-where he was often dubbed 'the King of Rapid'-underscored his remarkable versatility across different time controls. On the global championship stage, Anand showcased his versatility by excelling in various match formats. He won the FIDE World Championship in 2000 and became the undisputed World Champion in 2007 by triumphing in a double round-robin event in Mexico City. He went on to defend his title in challenging matches against elite opponents such as Vladimir Kramnik (2008), Veselin Topalov (2010), and Boris Gelfand (2012). These landmark victories, combined with his sustained success at premier tournaments, have solidified Anand's status as one of the greatest chess players in history.