Nick Name: Vishy
Date of Birth (Birthday): December 11, 1969
Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius
Hair Color: Black
Birth Place: Chennai, India
Religion: Hindu
Marital Status: Married
Languages: Tamil, English, Hindi, German, Spanish and French.
Hobbies: Reading, Swimming and Listening to Music
Professional Game: Chess
Father's Name: Vishwanathan
Mother's Name: Susheela
Brother: Shivakumar
Sister: Anuradha
Wife's Name: Aruna
Favourite Actor(s): Kamal Hassan and Rajni Kant
Favourite Actress: Aishwarya Rai, Sharon Stone
Favorite Food: Sambar, Rasam and Thai Food
Early days: Started playing chess from the age of six. It was his mother who taught him how to play the game of chess.
Vishwanathan Anand was born in Chennai in the year 1969. Anand, the living legend in the game of Chess has made a name for himself over the years. He has successfully conquered chess challenges from computers and Grandmasters alike.
Anand became the first Asian to win the sub-junior chess championship in the year 1987. Anand became the first Indian Grandmaster in 1988 at the age of eighteen. Vishwanathan Anand has been a world champion on many occasions including junior world chess champion in the year 1987 and undisputed world championship victories in the years 2007 and 2008.
The illustrious chess career of Vishwanathan Anand has got him many national and international awards. Popular awards amongst the many awards received by Vishwanathan Anand include the: Padma Shri, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, Arjuna Award, Chess Oscar, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, Jameo de Oro (highest honour of Spain).