Viswanathan Anand
Viswanathan Anand Profile
Achievements: In 1988 became India’s first Grandmaster; in 2000 became the first Indian to win the FIDE World Chess Championship; in 2003 won the FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship; won the Chess Oscar many times
For a long time Viswanathan Anand has epitomized the very best in Indian chess. In a glorious career spanning 25 years and still counting, Anand has taken Indian chess to dizzying heights.
After winning the National Sub-Junior Chess Championship in 1983, the next year, at the age of fifteen, Anand became the youngest Indian to win the International Master Title. In 1988, at the age of eighteen, he became India’s first Grandmaster.
In the 1990s Anand rubbed shoulders with some of the biggest names in world chess like Gary Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov. In 1995, in one of the most hyped duels of recent times, Anand lost to Kasparov in the Professional Chess Association World Chess Championship final.
Anand has achieved multiple success in prestigious chess tournaments like Corus, Linares and Dortmund. In 2000, Anand became the first Indian to win the FIDE World Chess Championship by defeating Alexei Shirov in the final.
In addition to his proven abilities in the classical chess format, Vishwanathan Anand is known as the the world’s finest rapid chess player. In 2003, Anand won the inaugural edition of the FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship defeating archrival Vladimir Kramnik.
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| Year of Participation | Tournament | Performance | Highlights |
| 2007 | Morelia-Linares Super Grandmaster Chess Tournament, Linares | Champion | Took and early lead and hung onto it right upto a final draw with Vassily Ivanchuk, to not only take the Title at Linares for the first time since 1998 but also to take the FIDE World No.1 Ranking for the very first time ever! |
| 2006 | Mikhail Tal Memorial Blitz Tournament, Moscow | Champion | Anand scored a whopping 23 points out of a possible 34 and won 11 out of 17 mini-matches to claim the strongest Blitz tournament in the history of the game, beating his nearest rival, Levon Aronian of Armenia by a comprehensive 2 point margin. |
| 2006 | Grenkeleasing World Rapid Championship, Mainz Chess Classic, Mainz | Champion | Beat Radjabov twice on the final day to win his 6th Title in a row at Mainz, his 7th in succession and his 9th Classic win overall, setting a record that is unlikely to be surpassed. |
| 2006 | 19th Magistral Ciudad de Leon Chess tournament, Leon | Champion | Underlined his mastery of the rapid format by running away with the title, easily beating Topalov in the Final, 2.5-1.5 to win his 6th Title at Leon. |
| 2006 | 15th Amber Blindfold & Rapid Chess Tournament | Joint Champion | Shared honours with Alexander Morozevich. Anand did not lose a single Rapid game and finished a tied second in the Blindfold. Morozevich outplayed Loek van Wely in his final Blindfold top board game, to tie with Anand overall. |
| 2006 | Corus Chess Tournament, Wijk Aan Zee | Champion | Made history by becoming the only player ever to win this tournament a record 5 times! Anand beat Boris Gelfand in his final round game to share top honours with Veselin Topalov. Anand was however awarded the trophy for having won more games with the black pieces. This win also gave Anand a vital 13 ELO points taking his ELO rating to 2805, thereby crossing the magic 2800 ELO point marker, a summit achieved before by only Kasparov, Kramnik and Topalov |
| 2005 | World Chess Championship, San Luis | Runner- Up | Finished Runner Up to Topalov, largely due to Topalov’s scorching start to the event. |
| 2005 | Mainz Chess Classic, Mainz | Champion | Took the title for the 5th year in a row, by beating Alexander Grischuk 5-2 in the Final, in an utterly dominant and professional display |
| 2005 | 18th Magistral Ciudad de Leon Chess tournament, Leon | Champion | Anand once again underlined his mastery over the rapid format, as he came back from a 0-1 deficit to beat FIDE champion Rustam Kasimdzhanov of Uzbekistan 2.5-1.5 |
| 2004 | Corsica Masters, Bastia | Champion | Anand won Corsica for the 5th year in succession and underlined his awesome year by winning his 4th major title in 2004, blanking Rublevsky 2-0 in the Final. |
| 2004 | Mainz Chess Classic, Mainz | Champion | Won his 2 major titles on successive Sundays by beating Alexei Shirov 4.5 – 2.5, to don the Black Jacket for the 4th straight year. Anand has now been Champion at Mainz an amazing 7 times in total. |
| 2004 | Dortmunder Schachtage, Dortmund | Champion | Viswanathan Anand once again proved that he was the king of the Rapid chess variation as he recored an emphatic victory over Braingames champion Vladimir Kramnik of Russia to win the Dortmund Sparkassen chess tournament 2004 |
| 2004 | Corus Chess Tournament, Wijk Aan Zee | Champion | After 1989, 1998 and 2002 it was Anand’s 4th tournament victory in Wijk Aan Zee, joining in the process an exclusive club of players that includes former World Chess Champion Max Euwe, Lajos Portisch, Viktor Kortchnoi and himself, who have won this prestigious event 4 times. With his result, Anand will pass Vladimir Kramnik on the rating list and will become the 2nd highest rated chess player in the world, behind Garry Kasparov in the FIDE world rankings. |
| 2003 | Corsica Masters, Bastia | Champion | Continued on what has been an amazing 2003, by winning the tournament for the 4th time in it’s 7th year! Anand beat Veselin Topolov in the second set of tie break games in what was a pulsating Final. |
| 2003 | World Rapid Chess Championship, Cap D’Agde | Champion | Lived up to his reputation of being the best rapid chess player in the world by beating Vladimir Kramnik 1.5 – 0.5 in the Final. |
| 2003 | Rapid Chess Classic, Mainz | Champion | Came from behind to beat Polgar 5-3 in a thrilling finish, to successfully defend his Title |
| 2003 | Sparkassen Chess Meeting, Dortmund | Runner-Up | Finished runner-up to Bologan after beating him earlier in the “Game of the Year” |
| 2003 | 12th Amber Chess Tournament, Monte Carlo | Champion | Became the first player ever, to win 3 unshared titles beating Kramnik’s record of 2 unshared and 2 shared titles. |
| 2003 | Corus Chess Tournament, Wijk Aan Zee | Champion | Made an impressive start to 2003 by winning commandingly in the year’s first super category tournament. Anand led throughout and finished a comfortable half point ahead of second placed Judit Polgar |
| 2002 | 6th Corsica Masters Rapid Chess Tournament, Corsica | Champion | Made it a hat-trick in Corsica by coming from behind to beat Anatoly Karpov 4-2 |
| 2002 | World Cup, Hyderabad | Champion | Successfully defended his Title with a facile 29 move second round win over Uzbek Grandmaster Kasimdzhanov |
| 2002 | Russia Vs Rest of the World, Moscow | Champion | Anchored the Rest of the World team to a historic victory in this unique event |
| 2002 | Chess Classic, Mainz | Champion | Spectacularly beat reigning World Champion Ruslan Ponomariov in the eighth match of the Final, with a flurry of sacrifices which completely mesmerised his opponent, to win 4.5-3.5. |
| 2002 | “Torneo Magistral de Ajedrez”, Leon | Runner- Up | Finished second to Vladimir Kramnik 2.5-3.5 by virtue of the decisive third game, all other games ending in draws. |
| 2002 | Eurotel World Chess Trophy, Prague | Champion | Sliced through a field that included all of the very best in world chess, beating Timman (2-0), Khalifman (2-0), Sokolov (1.5-0.5), Ivanchuk (2.5-1.5) and Karpov (1.5-0.5) in the Final. |
| 2002 | Super Torneo de Linnares, Linares | Joint Third Place | Tied for third place along with Adams and Ivanchuk |
| 2001 | World Chess Championship, Moscow | Semi Finalist | Lost to Ivanchuk in the Semi Final |
| 2001 | Corsica Masters, Corsica |
Champion |
Drew the final tie-break blitz game with Alexander Chernin, to successfully defend his Title |
| 2001 | “Duel of the Champions” |
Champion |
Beat Kramnik in a rapid game match 6.5,5.5.Anand won the blitz play off 1.5-.5 to clinch the title |
| 2001 | “Torneo Magistral de Ajedrez”, Leon | Champion | Beat Shirov 2.5 – 1.5 in the Final to win in Leon for the 3rd straight year and underline his absolute dominance of Advanced Chess, world-wide. |
| 2001 | 2nd Torneo Magistral, Mexico City | Champion | Finished 1 clear point ahead of his challengers in a 4 player field (Anand, Short, Khalifman and Hernandez) to win and take his rating, tantalisingly close to the magic 2800 mark! |
| 2000 | FIDE World Championships, Teheran and New Delhi | WORLD CHAMPION | Beat Alexei Shirov in the Final (3.5 – 0.5) to add the Crown Jewel to a glittering career and ascend the very pinnacle of game. |
| 2000 | FIDE World Cup, Shenyeng | Champion | Beat Bareev 1.5 – 0.5 in the final to register his best ever result in a FIDE event! |
| 2000 | Sparkassen Chess Meeting, Dortmund | Runner-Up | Followed up his outstanding win in Frankfurt by finishing Runner-Up to Kramnik after tieing on level points. |
| 2000 | Fujitsu Siemens Giants Rapid Chess, Frankfurt | Champion | Sliced through a field of the very best players on the planet to win in style with a round to spare |
| 2000 | “Torneo Magistral de Ajedrez”, Leon | Champion | Won in Leon for the second straight year, beating Shirov 1.5-0.5 in the Final. |
| 2000 | Wydra International Tournament, Haifa | Champion | Underlined his superiority in the rapid game. |
| 2000 | Corus Chess Tournament, Wijk Aan Zee | Runner-Up | Finished Runner-Up to Kasparov |
| 2000 | Plus GSM World Blitz Chess Cup, Warsaw | Champion | Clear winner with 17.5 Points in 22 Games. Beat Karpov, Gelfand and Svidler. |
| 1999 | “Torneo Magistral de Ajedrez”, Leon | Champion | Comprehensively beat Karpov 5-1 |
| 1999 | Chess Oscar | Champion | Anand wins the coveted Chess Oscar for the second straight year! |
| 1999 | Toreno International De Ajedrez Ciudad De Linares 1999, Linares | Runner-Up | |
| 1999 | 61st Hoogoven’s Schaak Tornoi, Wijk Aan Zee | Made a record plus 6 score | |
| 1999 | Wydra Memorial Rapid Chess,Haifa | Champion | |
| 1998 | Fontys-Tilburg International Chess Tournament | Champion | Has taken his 1998 record to 4 wins in 5 events entered. |
| 1998 | “Siemens Nixdorf Duell”,Frankfurt | Champion | Beat the world open category computer chess champion Fritz5(1.5-0.5) |
| 1998 | “Siemens Nixdorf Duell”,Frankfurt | Champion | Won the strongest rapid tournament of all time |
| 1998 | “Torneo Magitral Communidad De Madrid”, Madrid | Champion | Achieved a career high ELO rating of 2795,just 5 points short of the magical 2800 mark achieved till date only by Garry Kasparov |
| 1998 | Moscow | - | Viswanathan Anand wins the Chess ‘Oscar’ for 1997 ! |
| 1998 | - | - | Anand moves upto World No.2, with an FIDE rating of 2790 |
| 1998 | Torneo International De Ajedrez, Linares | Champion | Won the strongest tournament ever, in the history of chess. |
| 1998 | 60th Hoogoven’s Schaak Tornoi,Wijk Aan Zee | Champion | Won the public prize for best game |
| 1998 | FIDE World Chess Championship Finals, Basel | Runner- Up | He played against Karpov who had the unfair advantage of being seeded straight into the Finals. Playing 31 games in 30 days, Anand tied the match 3-3, but lost in the tie-break. |
| 1997 | Knock-Out Championship, Groningen | Champion | This was the qualifier for the world championship finals. He beat 3 out of the top 10 in the world, Shirov, Gelfand & Adams in the final tiebreak. He thus holds the unique record of winning the strongest ever knock-out championship in the history of chess. He also won with the least number of tie-breaks. |
| 1997 | “Invesbanka Chess tournament”, Belgrade | Champion | |
| 1997 | Credit Suisse Classic Tournament, Biel | Champion | Also won the first prize for the most beautiful game |
| 1997 | Dortmunder Schachtage, Dortmund | Runner- Up | - |
| 1997 | Chess Classic Rapid Tournament, Frankfurt | Champion | Qualified for the Final with 2 rounds to spare and went on to beat Karpov in the Final. |
| 1997 | Exhibition against 6 computers at the Aegon Man Vs Computers chess event. | Won 4-2 | One of the few players to play 6 computers simultaneously and win. |
| 1997 | 6th Melody Amber Tournament, Monaco | Champion | Finished overall first, and individually first in blindfold and rapid. . The first player in the history of the tournament to do so. |
| 1997 | Torneo de Ajedrex, Dos Hermanes | Champion | Finished first in a Category 19 Tournament. |
| 1996 | Las Palmas”Super Torneo De Ajedrez”, Las Palmas | Second | Finished 2nd among the top 6 players in the world . This was the strongest tournament of all time.(at that time) |
| 1996 | Credit Swiss Rapid Chess Grand Prix, Geneva | Champion | Beat World Champion Garry Kasparov in the final. |
| 1996 | Dortmunder Schachtage, Dortmund | Joint Winner with Kramnik | Won the prestigious Dortmund Tournament |
| 1995 | World Championship, World Trade Center, New York | Finalist | Lost the match after a see-saw 3rd week. First Asian to play the World Championship. Attained the World No. 2 position in the PCA Ranking list |
| 1995 | Candidates Final, Las Palmas | Winner | Beat Gata Kamsky and qualified for World Championship against Kasparov |
| 1994 | World Championship Candidates Cycle, Linares | Champion | Beat Adams and qualified for World Championship Candidates Final |
| 1994 | World Championship Candidates Cycle, New York | Champion | Beat Romanishin |
| 1994 | PCA Grand Prix, Moscow | Champion | Won ahead of Kasparov |
| 1994 | Melody Amber Tournament, Monaco | Champion | Won ahead of stalwarts like Karpov, Kramnik, Ivanchuk |
| 1993 | PCA Interzonal, Groningen | Champion | Won the strongest Swiss tournament ever |
| 1993 | FIDE Candidates Circle Interzonal, Biel | - | Qualified for the Candidates cycle |
| 1992 | Alekhine Memorial (Category 18), Moscow | - | Won the tournament ahead of Karpov. Attained a 2700 rating, only the 8th person ever to do so in the World |
| 1992 | Immopar Trophy, Paris | Finalist | Lost to Kasparov |
| 1992 | Played in Linares against Vassily Ivanchuk (then World No. 3) | Champion | Score:Anand-5, Ivanchuk-3 |
| 1992 | Chess Olympaid 1992, Manila | - | Captained the Indian team. Remained unbeaten throughout while playing on the top board. |
| 1992 | Goodrich Open International Tournament, Calcutta | Joint Champion | - |
| 1992 | Reggio Emilia Chess Tournament (Category 18) | Champion | First place in Reggio Emilia, ahead of Kasparov and Karpov in the strongest tournament ever held until this time (Category 18) |
| 1991 | World Championship, Brussels | Quarter Finalist | Lost to Anatoly Karpov |
| 1991 | “Candidates Match” for the World Championship, Madras | Champion | Beat Alexey Dreev to be the first Asian to qualify for the Quarter Finals of the World Championship |
| 1990 | Triveni International Super Grandmasters Tournament, Delhi | Joint Champion | - |
| 1990 | Manila Chess Interzonal, Manila | - | Placed 3rd and became 1st Indian to qualify for Candidates Matches leading up to the World Championships |
| 1990 | Asian Open Chess Championship, Manila | Champion | - |
| 1990 | Manchester Chess Festival, Manchester | Champion | - |
| 1990 | Asian Zonal Championship | Gold Medallist | Qualified for the Interzonal |
| 1989 | GMA World Cup Qualifier | Tied for 4th place | Strongest Open tournament in history with 184 Grandmasters |
| 1989 | Asian Team Chess Championship | Scored 7 points out of 7 games | Winner of the top board prize and individual performance of the tournament |
| 1989 | 2nd Asian Active Chess Championship, Hong Kong | Champion | - |
| 1989 | First National Active Chess, Pune | Champion | - |
| 1989 | 4th International Games Festival, France (Veterans vs. Youth Tournament) | 2nd overall, but 1st in the Youth category | A special triumph in beating 2 former World Champions, Mikhail Tal and Boris Spassky |
| 1988 | 51st Hoogovens Chess Tournament Wijk Aan Zee | Champion | First Asian to win |
| 1987 | Sakthi Finance International Grandmasters Chess Tournament | Tied for First Place | Became India’s first Grandmaster and the Youngest Grandmaster in the World at that time |
| 1987 | Bhilwara Grandmaster Chess Tournament, Bhilwara | Second | Secured his Second Grandmaster norm |
| 1987 | - | - | First Indian to receive an ELO rating of 2500 |
| 1987 | World Junior Chess Championship | Champion | First Asian to win the World Junior Title |
| 1986 | Arab-Asian International Chess Championship | Champion | - |
| 1986-88 | National ‘A’ Chess Championship | Won all 3 years | Youngest National Champion ever |
| 1986 | Asian Team Championship | Board Prize Winner | Team won Silver |
| 1984-85 | Asian Junior (under 19) Championships | Won both years | Earned the title of International Master at 15, the youngest Asian to achieve this distinction |
| 1984-85 | Lloyd’s Bank Junior | Won both years | - |
| 1984 | World Sub-Junior Championship | Tied for 2nd place. Awarded the Bronze Medal | - |
| 1983-84 | National Sub Junior Championship | Champion | Set a new record by scoring 9/9 points |
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