Checkmate! The master’s at play

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VISHWANATHAN ANAND

DECEMBER 11, 1969

Few sporting legends can contend with Vishwanathan Anand for the title of the greatest Indian sportsman ever. He may not enjoy the super-stardom of a Tendulkar or the reverence evoked by a Dhyan Chand, but he is the only Indian to have remained at the very top in a truly global sport for over a decade now.
In 1988, when Anand become a Grandmaster at 18, no Indian had ever earned the coveted title. Today, India has 15 GMs — and counting — and ranks in the top 20 among chessplaying nations. It’s an amazing transformation inspired and led by Anand. But his influence isn’t limited to chess. In many ways, the world No 1 chess player epitomises middleclass India’s arrival on the global stage. He plays all over the world, lives in Madrid — he and wife Aruna have learnt the salsa and their answering machine greets you in Spanish — but remains rooted in Indian values. He still craves for the rasam cooked by his mother and helps the underprivileged in Chennai as well as young players in the country.
Anand’s biggest message to the world of sport is simple: even the humble and gentle can be world-beaters. And how. In April this year, he became only the sixth player in history to lead the FIDE Elo chess ratings, he has been among the top three players in classical chess since 1997 and one of only four players to have achieved an Elo rating of over 2800. He was the FIDE world champion from 2000 to 2002.
Besides, he has won world rapid and blitz titles, numerous grand slams (Wijkaan Zee, Linares) and chess Oscars. The most gifted player after Bobby Fischer (for he excels in all formats of the game) has delivered when the onus was on him — in contrast, most of our other big sporting achievements crack under high pressure. There are still some unfinished moves on Anand’s chessboard. He aims to win the world title this September in Kramnik’s presence and also become the undisputed king of classical chess. And yes, win a medal for India in the chess Olympiad of 2008 in Dresden, Germany. “Chess is a very individual game,” says Anand. “It can spoil you. I don’t think I can ever work for a boss now.” No worries on that score, Grandmaster.