Viswanathan Anand is 56 years old as of October 2026. He was born on 11 December 1969.
Indian chess grandmaster and former undisputed world champion
Did you know?Known for his incredible speed of play, he was the first recipient of India's highest sporting honour.
Quick facts
Date of birth11 December 1969
Age56
NationalityIndian
BirthplaceChennai, India
Occupationchess player, writer
Editor's Take:
Viswanathan Anand turned chess into a national passion in India. He was famously fast and intuitive. He became the country's first grandmaster and then a world champion in every format. He defended his title against Kramnik, Topalov and Gelfand. He lost it in 2013 to Magnus Carlsen in his home city of Chennai. His success inspired a wave of young Indian players. Several now rank among the world's best. He remains a respected mentor and administrator.
Key Milestones
1987: Wins the World Junior Championship
1988: Becomes India's first grandmaster
2007: Becomes undisputed World Champion
2013: Loses the title to Magnus Carlsen
Viswanathan "Vishy" Anand (born 11 December 1969) is an Indian chess grandmaster. Anand is a four-time undisputed World Chess Champion, a FIDE World Chess Champion, a 13-time World Rapid Chess Champion, and a World Blitz Chess Champion.
Viswanathan Anand's birthday is December 11. He was born on December 11, 1969 in Chennai, India.
How old is Viswanathan Anand?
Viswanathan Anand is 56 years old, and turns 57 on his next birthday, December 11.
Who shares a birthday with Viswanathan Anand?
Famous people who share Viswanathan Anand's December 11 birthday include Naguib Mahfouz, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, Hector Berlioz, Robert Koch and Max Born.
