Viswanathan Anand Quotes

Powerful Viswanathan Anand for Daily Growth

About Viswanathan Anand

Viswanathan Anand, born on December 11, 1969, in Southern India, is an internationally acclaimed Indian chess grandmaster and former World Chess Champion. Known for his strategic brilliance and calm demeanor, he has been a significant figure in the world of chess since his early years. Anand's passion for chess ignited at the age of six when he began learning the game from his father. By the age of eight, he was already a national under-11 champion, and by 14, he had become India's youngest Grandmaster. His prodigious talent caught the attention of the world, earning him the nickname "The Tiger from Madras." Anand's career has been marked by numerous accolades. He first won the World Chess Championship in 2000 and has held the title five times, making him one of the longest-reigning World Champions in history. His major works include "My Personal Chess Trainer," a popular instructional book, and his autobiography, "The Evolution of a Chess Player." Anand's influence extends beyond the chessboard. He has been a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF since 1999, using his platform to raise awareness about children's rights and education. His contributions to the sport have earned him numerous awards, including the Padma Bhushan, India's third-highest civilian honor, in 2007. Currently, Anand continues to compete at the highest level, inspiring a new generation of Indian chess players and demonstrating that with determination and skill, anyone can achieve greatness. His legacy lies not only in his victories but also in the impact he has had on promoting chess and social causes around the world.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Chess is a visual art that becomes a mental war."

This quote by Viswanathan Anand suggests that chess, as a game, is not just about strategy or competition; it's also an expression of artistic creativity and intellectual combat. The "visual art" aspect refers to the arrangement of pieces on the board, which can be visually appealing yet strategically significant. The "mental war" part indicates the intense mental challenge that each game presents as players strive to outmaneuver each other, making chess a battlefield for minds instead of weapons.


"Success in chess requires patience, persistence and the will to win."

This quote by Viswanathan Anand highlights three essential traits required for success in chess, which can be applied to various aspects of life as well. 1. Patience: Success often comes after a long wait or enduring challenges. It means having the ability to remain calm and composed amidst setbacks and uncertainties, while strategizing for future opportunities. 2. Persistence: Success does not come easy; it requires continuous effort and determination. Persistence is about never giving up despite failures or obstacles, but instead learning from mistakes and pressing on towards the goal. 3. Will to Win: A strong desire to succeed is crucial in achieving one's goals. This will to win fuels motivation, resilience, and commitment, inspiring individuals to strive for excellence even when faced with adversity. In essence, Anand's quote underscores the importance of patience, persistence, and ambition as key drivers of success in any endeavor, not just chess.


"Chess is a very intellectual sport. It's not just about strategy; it's also about psychology."

Viswanathan Anand's quote suggests that chess, although primarily recognized for its strategic aspects, is deeply rooted in psychology as well. This implies that mastering the game requires not only an understanding of complex strategies but also a strong mental fortitude - the ability to remain focused, adapt to changing circumstances, and cope with pressure. The psychological dimension encompasses elements such as decision-making under stress, anticipating opponent's moves, maintaining self-belief, and learning from failures, all essential skills in chess and many other areas of life.


"A good player learns from his mistakes, a great player learns from others' mistakes."

This quote by Viswanathan Anand emphasizes the importance of learning not only from one's own errors but also from the errors of others. It suggests that becoming a 'great player' requires a broader perspective, extending beyond personal experiences to learn from the experiences of others. This approach fosters growth and development more effectively, as it offers a wider pool of knowledge to draw upon, helping one avoid pitfalls and improve more efficiently.


"In chess, you have to go step by step and think strategically. In life, the same approach can bring success."

This quote by Viswanathan Anand suggests that the principles of strategic thinking and systematic approach used in playing chess can be applied to achieve success in life. The implication is that one should take a step-by-step approach, planning ahead and making calculated moves just as one would in a game of chess. This methodical, strategic mindset can help individuals navigate complex situations, overcome challenges, and ultimately reach their goals in life.


In the knockout tournaments, it's futile to prepare for a grand finale. You may have worked out many strategies for the final. But you may lose in the first round itself.

- Viswanathan Anand

Prepare, May, Tournaments, Finale

I keep forcing, I keep learning new things in the game, and so far I have been taking challenges as they come.

- Viswanathan Anand

Game, New, Been, Forcing

In Gujarat, we had the world record of largest number of chess games in a single venue - 20,500 - and in Tamil Nadu, I have been emphasizing on the positives of chess to the authorities.

- Viswanathan Anand

Been, Largest, Venue, World Record

In chess, knowledge is a very transient thing. It changes so fast that even a single mouse-slip sometimes changes the evaluation.

- Viswanathan Anand

Chess, Sometimes, Very, Transient

I feel that schools and corporates should help the government in popularising sports in the country. Blaming the government for every sporting debacle will not be fair.

- Viswanathan Anand

Sports, Country, Will, Blaming

There is always the risk of being over-confident when you are preparing to face a weaker player.

- Viswanathan Anand

Face, Always, Preparing, Weaker

I think an important lesson from the game is that once you have made a move, you cannot take it back. You really have to measure your decisions. You think a lot. You evaluate your choices very carefully. There's never any guarantee about what's going to follow once you have made a decision.

- Viswanathan Anand

Game, I Think, Very, Decisions

My parents were very supportive of my chess. When I got home after a game of chess, having missed school or something, they always made me feel very welcome; I didn't feel guilty at all about pursuing chess with such fervour. They never, for instance, perceived sports as a rival to academics.

- Viswanathan Anand

Game, Supportive, Very, Rival

Of course, you feel good to play in a familiar environment. I enjoyed Delhi 2000 a lot. But the advantage doesn't work during a game. There, only the moves count.

- Viswanathan Anand

Game, Play, Advantage, Delhi

I like to keep myself physically and mentally fit before any important match. I usually take a short nap just before the game and do not practice immediately before the tournament.

- Viswanathan Anand

Game, Practice, Like, Nap

I don't know how many calories an average chess player burns per game, but it often exceeds that of a player in ball games. It is not only the chess as such: You need to be fit and undergo complicated preparation.

- Viswanathan Anand

Preparation, Game, Average, Undergo

For me, each game is a new challenge, which has to be dealt with rationally and systematically. At that time, every other thought fades into oblivion.

- Viswanathan Anand

Game, New, Which, Oblivion

The broader the chess player you are, the easier it is to be competitive, and the same seems to be true of mathematics - if you can find links between different branches of mathematics, it can help you resolve problems. In both mathematics and chess, you study existing theory and use that to go forward.

- Viswanathan Anand

Mathematics, Study, Resolve, Branches

Preparedness for a game that usually lasts four-five hours requires good physical condition and also steady nerves.

- Viswanathan Anand

Game, Hours, Lasts, Preparedness

Each match I approach like a new one. The work is so immense that you don't have time to sit and ponder.

- Viswanathan Anand

Work, New, Like, Immense

It's important, according to me, to train in small doses so as to not lose the joy of playing chess. I personally think too many coaching and training classes may take away a child's interest in the game itself. The essential thing to do is practise often and, in case of a doubt, to consult a trainer.

- Viswanathan Anand

Game, Small, Doses, Train

The Internet gives you access to a lot of material, and it's fun to sit and read. I go to something like Wikipedia and look at different topics... I find the subject fascinating. I like to read about concepts and mathematicians.

- Viswanathan Anand

Access, Like, Read, Mathematicians

Sometimes, if you are nervous, it could actually turn out to be a manifestation of your exhaustion. The point is that any setback is bad, but if you see it from a perspective, you'll recover.

- Viswanathan Anand

Bad, Manifestation, Recover, Setback

I personally prefer long-distance walking, but we are talking about pre-tournament preparation. During a tournament I make do with walking, mainly to concentrate before a game.

- Viswanathan Anand

Game, Before, Prefer, Long-Distance

I love travelling and going on wildlife safaris. I have an interest in astronomy. I like reading on current affairs, business and science. I love doing nothing if I can help it.

- Viswanathan Anand

Love, Doing, Travelling, Affairs

You bring to chess facets of your personality and what you are. I have interests other than chess, like music and world and current affairs. I also have many friends around the world with whom I like to keep in touch.

- Viswanathan Anand

Chess, Other, Like, Affairs

I go to the gym every day. That tends to taper off when I'm at a tournament. During tournaments, I'm not trying to build fitness. I'm simply trying to keep away any kind of tension. I go for long walks to clear my head.

- Viswanathan Anand

Every Day, Away, Tournaments, Taper

When you play with the best in the world, it is important that you not lose focus. You must be fully focused. Even a minor error could result in a massive defeat.

- Viswanathan Anand

Play, Could, Minor, Fully

I attend to my fitness. I go the gym every day and try to maintain my physical fitness; without that, it is tough to take challenges on the chess board.

- Viswanathan Anand

Challenges, Chess, Attend, Physical Fitness

Before a game, I avoid having a heavy meal so that I don't feel sleepy at the board. You eat to be healthy, and that generally takes care of everything. Also, you can't be too finicky, since at tournaments you tend to eat at restaurants here and there. But, as long as you're eating sensibly, it's all good.

- Viswanathan Anand

Game, Here, Tournaments, Board

There is technology where you can watch the match live online and also on TV. If people understood the game, I'm sure we would have a lot of chess fans by now.

- Viswanathan Anand

Game, Sure, TV, Understood

I was reasonably interested in mathematics in school. Typically what happens is... when you start playing chess, it takes up a lot of your attention. But about 10 years ago, I found that the Internet is very good to start learning about a lot of subjects.

- Viswanathan Anand

Mathematics, Very, About, Reasonably

I don't bench press, but I use machines to work 10-12 muscle groups. Biceps, triceps, a few things for the back, calves, shoulders and so on - and then I'll go on the running machine, cross-trainer or mountain climber.

- Viswanathan Anand

Back, Shoulders, Use, Machines

When I was about six, I saw my elder siblings play chess and pestered my mother into teaching me. Very soon, I was beating everyone at home, and they thought it would be good to join a club. So my sister would take me to the Tal chess club on Thursdays and weekends.

- Viswanathan Anand

Play, Weekends, Very, Elder

If revenge motivates you, go for it! But the main thing is to set your game in order.

- Viswanathan Anand

Game, Go For It, Set, Order

If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.