"I liked winning games”
By:sanjay pattnayak
"I liked winning games,” remarked Viswanathan Anand, a legendary figure in the world of chess, who boasts five World Chess Championships and two Chess World Cup victories, during an interview with Scroll about his remarkable career.
Anand's achievements are nothing short of extraordinary. At the age of 18, he became India's first Grandmaster in 1988, and his peak FIDE rating of 2817, reached in March 2011, places him eighth on the all-time list.
Renowned for his innovative playing style and his expertise in navigating complex positions, Anand has introduced strategic concepts that have significantly influenced the game, inspiring a new generation of players.
Anand's journey in chess started at the age of six, guided by his mother. His family's time in Manila, Philippines, from 1978 to the early 1980s, further ignited his passion for the game. His rise in Indian chess was swift and impressive.
At 14, he won the sub-junior championship with a perfect score, and just a year later, he claimed victory at the Asian Junior Championship.
Anand went on to become one of the greatest rapid chess players of his era, winning numerous prestigious rapid and blitz tournaments.
Beyond his personal accomplishments, Anand has played a crucial role in nurturing young Indian chess talent, contributing to India's historic double gold victory at the 2024 FIDE Chess Olympiad. This monumental achievement reinforced his reputation as the "Father of the Indian chess boom."
“Young talents have emerged [in India] and grown to become some of the top players in the world,” Anand told India Today. “Our teams will remain strong contenders for the next 10 years."
