Viswanathan Anand is a former world chess champion and Indian chess grandmaster. In 1988, he became India's first grandmaster. He is one of the few players who have attained an Elo rating of 2800, which he first did in 2006.  

Viswanathan Anand has won the World Chess Championship five times. He won the 2000 FIDE World Chess Championship in a six-game tournament against Alexei Shirov, a title he retained until 2002.  

In 2007, Viswanathan Anand won the uncontested world championship, which he successfully defended against Vladimir Kramnik in 2008, Veselin Topalov in 2010, and Boris Gelfand in 2012.  

Viswanathan Anand acquired the nickname "Lightning Kid” during his early career in the 1980s because of his lightning-quick playing speed.  

Since then, Viswanathan Anand has evolved into a universal player, and many believe him to be the best quick chess player of his generation.  

In 2003 and 2017, Viswanathan Anand won the FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship, the World Blitz Cup in 2000, and a slew of additional top-level rapid and blitz events.  

In 1991–92, Viswanathan Anand was the first winner of India's highest athletic honour, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award.  

In 2007, Viswanathan Anand received the Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian award, making him the first sportsperson to earn the honour.