Global Chess League: All about Ganges Grandmasters' star Viswanathan Anand

Viswanathan Anand began his chess journey at the age of six, learning the game from his mother. By 14, he had already made a mark by winning the Indian National Sub-Junior Championship with a perfect score of nine wins. At 15, he became the youngest Indian to earn the international master title, and the following year, he claimed the first of three consecutive national championships. Anand's breakthrough came at 17 when he became the first Asian to win a world chess title, securing the 1987 FIDE World Junior Championship. He earned the prestigious grandmaster title in 1988 and, in 1991, triumphed in a major international tournament, finishing ahead of both Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov. This marked a significant shift, as a non-Russian contender emerged as a favorite for the world championship.

Throughout the 1990s, Anand competed fiercely with Kasparov and Vladimir Kramnik for dominance in FIDE’s official ratings. His initial bid for the FIDE World Championship in 1991 ended in a quarter-final loss to Karpov. The event's knockout format was controversial, as it attracted a boycott from top players due to quick match structures. Anand faced Kasparov for the PCA championship in 1995, but lost decisively. In 1998, he challenged Karpov for the FIDE title, navigating through an intense series of knockout matches. The final match ended in a draw after six games, but Karpov triumphed in the tiebreaks, further solidifying Anand's reputation as a top contender in the chess world.

Anand's major breakthrough came in 2000 when he won the FIDE World Chess Championship, which utilized a knockout format. However, the nature of this format raised doubts among fans regarding the legitimacy of his title. Many believed that a true champion should defeat the reigning champion in a traditional long match, rather than through a series of shorter contests. As a result, Anand, along with other FIDE champions since Kasparov, struggled for widespread recognition.

It wasn't until 2007 that Anand solidified his status as a legitimate world champion with his victory in the FIDE World Chess Championship, which was held in a double round-robin format. In this setup, each participant played two games against every other player—one with the white pieces and one with the black. This championship included many of the world's top players, and Anand's triumph in this prestigious tournament earned him the acknowledgment he had long sought. His success in 2007 not only validated his talent but also established him firmly in the pantheon of world chess champions. Viswanathan Anand was part of the Ganges Grandmasters in the opening edition of the Global Chess League. He will continue to be part of the same team in the Global Chess League 2024.