The King of 64 squares....

Some days back, Viswanathan Anand laid to rest any speculations (if any) that he is among the best chess players of all time. Surely, he had been World Champion twice but this was the first time he won in matchplay. Nobody can question his abilities in rapid chess but till now all questioned his abilities against quality opposition in matchplay.

Critics and his opponents said that he would beat lower ranked players while drawing against good opposition and hence would always struggle in matchplays. To some extent they were even right, but this win should silence his detractors. Kramnik had questioned and ridiculed him when Anand won in 2007 saying the title belonged to him and Anand had only temporarily taken it from him and even challenged him to a matchplay. But now even he would have to accept that the crown is on the head of the king only. Two undisputed championship out of three should surely put to rest any doubts.

It is not only the result but the manner in which he has scored the win makes it more memorable. Till now, it was normal in chess to defend with black but never before has anyone got two succesive victories with black against an opposition of Kramnik's class. Taking a lead of 3 points after 6 rounds is pure domination. He has been agressive in his approach and has simply outplayed and outwitted Kramnik in his own backyard (matchplay of classical chess).

His numerous titles in rapid chess show his mastery in that form. Corsica (six years in a row from 1999 through 2005), Chess Classic (nine years in a row from 2000 through 2008), 11 Mainz titles, 5 titles of Corus Championships, etc. He is also the only player to win the blind and rapid sections of the Amber tournament in the same year (and he did this twice – in 1997 and 2005). He is the first player to have achieved victories in each of the three big chess supertournaments: Corus (1998, 2003, 2004, 2006), Linares (1998, 2007, 2008), Dortmund (1996, 2000, 2004).

The other greatness of Anand lies in the fact that he doesn't belong to the old school who believed that your opponents are to be hated. He would respect his opponents and believed that the only place to show his superiority was on the chessboard. Anand probably is the first Chess wizard who is so composed in his nature and doesn't indulge in maligning others. He has brought a new whole dimension to the sport and is by far the greatest ambassador of the sport. True people will consider Karpov or Kasparov as greater players but the fact is that Anand is seen as the person who has broken the stranglehold of the Russians.

He is the one of the seven non-Russians to have won the prestigious Chess Oscar. And only he and legendary Bobby Fischer (3 times) have done it more than once. He has won it a staggering five times behind only Anatoly Karpov(9 times) and Garry Kasparov( 11 times). He is the one of the four to have ever crossed the Elo Rating of 2800. If Karpov inspired an entire generation of Russian GMs, Anand has given the faith to all GMs around the world that a non-Russian can also rule the Chess of world.

He is the first Indian GM and has been a source of inspiration to a whole bunch of Indian Chess GMs, WGMs and IMs. You ask Surya Shekhar Ganguly, Dibyendu Barua, Abhijit Kunte, K Sasikaran, Praveen Thipsay, D Harika, P Harikrishna, Koneru Humpy, Tejas Bakre about their idol and i am sure most of them would answer Anand. He has been the pioneer of the chess movement in India. Today, India is one of the superpowers of Chess. He is a true sporting legend and one of the biggest ambassadors of Indian sports.

I always believe one of the parameters on which a great sportsperson should be judged the effect he has had on the game. Here is a player who has changed the way game is played worldwide and broken through the monopoly of the dominating nation. He has inspired numerous players to take up chess. He is truly a perfect ambassador for Chess in particular and sports in general.