Viswanathan Anand became India’s first Grandmaster in 1988 at the age of eighteen, marking a turning point in Indian chess history. Born on December 11, 1969, Anand showcased his talent early by winning the National Sub-Junior Chess Championship with a perfect score of 9/9 at age fourteen. He became the youngest Indian to earn the International Master title in 1984 and won the National Championship at sixteen. In 1987, he made history as the first Indian to win the World Junior Chess Championship.

Anand's international acclaim grew when he won the FIDE World Chess Championship in 2000, defeating Alexei Shirov in the finals. He became one of only four players to surpass the 2800 Elo rating mark. Over the years, Anand has been honored with several prestigious awards, including the Arjuna Award (1985), Padma Shri (1987), Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (1991), and Padma Bhushan (2000), recognizing his immense contribution to Indian sports.