The great Indian chess player:
Viswanathan Anand is a famous chess player who was born in Mayiladuthurai, a small village in Tamil Nadu also called as face of Indian Chess. Born on December 11, 1969, he became India’s first Grandmaster in 1988 and became a five time World Chess Champion. He is a very humble human being who is deeply connected to his roots so it can be seen both on and off the board. He had played and beaten
Garry Kasparov, Russian Chess Grandmaster, to Magnus Carlsen, a Norwegian Chess Grandmaster.
A stepping stone for Indian's next generation:
Anand has also been remarkable not only by his title but also his nurturing role by shaping the youngsters and chess prodigies of India. He acts as a mentor to
R Praggnanandhaa and D Gukesh, the upcoming rising stars of Indian chess, through his Academy named as WestBridge Anand Chess Academy (WACA). He also served as the vice president of FIDE, the world chess federation and also named as 100 most powerful Indians in 2025 by the Indian Express Daily.
Humility shown in and out of the game:
Apart from being a chess master, he is well known for his humility. For instance, in one of his 2025 interviews, he mentioned about his early tournaments and how he sends postcards to his parents to let them know of his results, in a pre- digital era. As mentioned, he is well rooted to his culture and traditions thus, he celebrates Pongal, a festival in Tamil Nadu, by inviting other young chess players to his home. Isn’t he one of a kind, who stands as a pillar of discipline, intellect and warmth that inspires the young generation?
Hope that helps!
You might also like:
1.Neuralink patient playing chess after chip implant. Isn't it great?:
https://www.mindstick.com/articles/335510/neuralink-patient-playing-chess-after-chip-implant-isn-t-it-great
2. Best PC games 2023:
https://www.mindstick.com/articles/333705/best-pc-games-2023