Anand, Viswanathan

15th World Champion, 2007 - 2013 and FIDE World Champion, 2000 - 2002

Born in Madras, India in 1969. He learned to play at the age of six, with his mother as first teacher. As child he proved his talent to play at an unusual speed. Today it is an important weapon in his strategy. He held the FIDE World Chess Championship from 2000 to 2002, at a time when the World title was split. He became the undisputed World Champion in 2007 and defended his title against Vladimir Kramnik in 2008. He then successfully defended his title in the World Chess Championship 2010 against Veselin Topalov and in the World Chess Championship 2012 against Boris Gelfand.
Lost his title in 2013 to Magnus Carlsen after a match where he could not score a single victory.