Player
Viswanathan Anand is an Indian chess Grandmaster. He earned the Grandmaster title in 1988, and was the first Indian chess player to do so. Anand is a five time world chess champion. He held the FIDE World Chess Championship title from 2000 to 2002 and was the undisputed World Chess Champion from 2007 to 2013. Aside from his success in classical chess, Anand was also well known for his rapid play. He was the 2003 and 2017 World Rapid Champion, as well as 2000 World Blitz cup winner. Due to his success in the sport of chess, Anand is considered a hero in India and was the first recipient of the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, India's highest sporting honor. In 2007, he became the first sportsman to receive the Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian award.