Viswanathan Anand, from Chennai, India, is one of the greatest chess players in history and a pioneer of modern Indian chess. Nicknamed the "Lightning Kid" for his rapid calculation skills, Anand became India’s first grandmaster in 1988 and went on to win the World Chess Championship five times (2000, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012), defeating top rivals including Kramnik, Topalov, and Gelfand. He is the only player to have won the World Championship in all three formats: knockout, tournament, and match play. | Anand’s versatility extends across classical, rapid, and blitz formats, earning him a reputation as one of the fastest and most precise players of his era. In 2025, he showcased his enduring strength by competing in the German Chess Bundesliga, scoring 2/3, including a 47-move victory over Nijat Abasov, and later winning his 10th Leon Masters title with a 3–1 victory over Jamie Santos. Beyond the board, Anand has been honored with India’s Padma Vibhushan for his immense contributions to chess.