New Delhi, May 29: Some athletes elevate their sport to new heights through their exceptional skills. In the realm of chess, one such legendary player is Vishwanathan Anand. Anand has brought recognition to chess in India, a game that was once rarely discussed. He is a five-time World Champion and the first Indian to receive the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award.
The date May 30 holds special significance for Anand. On this day in 2012, he became the undisputed king of chess for the fifth time. In a thrilling championship match held in Moscow, he defeated Israel’s Boris Gelfand after a marathon contest. The first 12 games between Anand and Gelfand ended in a 6-6 draw, leading to a tiebreaker to determine the champion. In the tiebreaker, Anand triumphed with a score of 2.5 to 1.5.
The championship match showcased intense competition. The first game of the tiebreaker lasted 33 moves and ended in a draw. However, in the second game, Anand secured victory over Gelfand after 77 moves. Following two more drawn games, Anand clinched the title, successfully defending his championship for the third consecutive time. This victory marked his fifth overall and fourth in succession. Anand first won the title in 2000, followed by consecutive wins in 2007, 2008, and 2010.
Vishwanathan Anand is also India’s first Grandmaster, achieving this title at the young age of 18 in 1988. A year prior, in 1987, he became the first Asian player to win the World Junior Chess Championship. For his significant contributions to chess, Anand was honored with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award in 1991/92 (now known as the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna). He has also received the Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri awards.
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