Ex-world champion Viswanathan Anand may be past his prime. But the tiger from Madras is still going strong! With a near-endless list of tournament and match wins, including world championships, Viswanathan Anand net worth will undoubtedly be one of the highest in the game.
Vishy Anand Net Worth Estimates
Few doubt the 49-year-old is his country’s greatest ever player, in a game India invented, and considered by many to be one of the greatest players of all time.
So it is no wonder his career earnings through prize money, promotional work and sponsorships have amassed him an estimated $5 million to $7 million fortune.
But it is not just cash that Anand has earned.
India has recognized him with numerous honors, including giving him their highest civilian award, the Padma Vibhushan.
The Tamil Nadu government also gifted the GM with a type-A flat at the SAF Games village in 2001, celebrating his victory over Alexei Shirov to win the world chess championship.
The property is a fine addition to Viswanathan Anand’s house in Chennai, a lavish and spacious family home where he invites some of India’s youngest and best talents to train with him.
How Much Does Viswanathan Anand Earn Per Year? Looking Back To 2013
As a snapshot to how much Viswanathan Anand is worth, research carried out by Chessbase in 2013 found that in the previous year
the Viswanathan Anand net worth fund made around about $2 million.
He made most of that – $1.5 million – in the world championship match against Boris Gelfand.
Here is the break-down:
- Bundesliga: unknown
- World Chess Championship Match, winner: $1,530,000
- Award from Tamil Nadu government for winning the WCC: $400,000
- Bilbao Chess Masters Final, 5: unknown. In 2008 the prizes were the following: €150,000 for the first place, €70,000 for the second one, €60,000 for third, €50,000 for fourth, €40,000 for fifth and €30,000 for sixth. Prizes were reduced considerably in 2012 though.
- London Chess Classic, 5th: $14,500 (information about best games prizes wasn’t available)
- Endorsements: NIIT, TVH, AMD (earnings unknown).
Estimated total: $2,000,000
Vishy Anand has also been invited to play in the 2019 Grand Chess Tour and stands to make a guaranteed amount which has not yet been disclosed.
Tour participants will fight for a record prize fund of $1.75 million as the GCT expands its reach to four continents to include tournaments in Africa, Asia, Europe and America.
The prize money on offer for the classical tournaments has been increased to $325,000 per event ($90,000 for 1st place and $60,000 for 2nd) while the prize fund for the GCT Finals in London will also be raised to $350,000 ($150,000 for 1st place and $100,000 for 2nd).
All About Anand And His Chess – An FAQ
Is Anand the greatest chess player?
Names like Fischer, Kasparov, and Carlsen may eclipse him when fans discuss the game’s greatest of all time.
But make no mistake:
Vishy has all of the trademarks of a GOAT. He has immense talent for chess, able to crush IM-level opponents with only 10 minutes of play at a young age. He showed versatility when he tailored his playing style to suit the rise of chess engines. And, boy, is he disciplined, combining chess studies with physical training to improve his performance.
What Is Viswanathan Anand’s Rating?
The 15th world champion sports a 2774 rating for standard or classical chess. His rapid and blitz ratings also cross the 2700-mark at the of this writing. Anand reached the top of the FIDE rating list in 2007 with 2786 rating. Three years later, he crossed the 2800-mark after expanding his tournament schedule.
Who Was Vishy’s First Chess Teacher?
His first teacher was no other than his mother, Sushila Anand.
She often played chess at home, which eventually piqued the interest of a five-year-old Vishy. Sushila also became her son’s biggest supporter – molding his character off the board and accompanying him in every tournament during his younger years.
When Did He Become India’s First Chess Grandmaster?
Anand became India’s first GM in 1988 as an 18-year old. The milestone came at a tournament in Coimbatore, after which other players ran out of the tournament hall to congratulate the tiger from Madras.
How Many Times Did Vishy Defend The World Championship Title?
In 1987, he became the first Indian to be crowned World Junior Champion and then in 2000 the first Indian to be crowned world champion.
Anand held the FIDE World Chess Championship from 2000 to 2002 and became the undisputed World Chess Champion in 2007. He defended his title against Vladimir Kramnik in 2008, Veselin Topalov in 2010 and Boris Gelfand in 2012 before finally losing the title to Magnus Carlsen in their World Chess Championship match in 2013.
Take note not only of the many successful defenses but also of the varying format of these world championships. Anand was the only player to have won the title in tournament, knockout, and classical match format!
Viswanathan Anand: Information Outside Chess
Born in December 11, 1969 in Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu, India, Viswanathan – or Vishy – Anand grew up in Chennai.
By the age of 16, he was a national champion and went on to win it two times. Now, at 49 years old, he has a room full of trophies and medals won from super-GM events. However, his achievements far more monumental than his actual height of 5’ 9” didn’t get to his head. Today, Vishy is one of the most humble and well-liked personalities in the chess world.
Family
His father Viswanathan Iyer worked with the Southern Railways. His mother Sushila, on the other hand, was a housewife and introduced Vishy to the world of chess.
Vishy is the youngest among three siblings. And while his brother and sister are not chess champions, they have found success in their own ways. Older bro Shivakumar is a manager at a multinational company, Crompton Greaves. Meanwhile, older sis Anuradha is a professor at the University of Michigan.
Education
Vishy became highly successful at chess but not at the expense of his formal education. He studied at Don Bosco Matriculation Higher Secondary School in his formative years, and he also holds a Bachelor of Commerce’s degree from Loyola College in Chennai.
Wife And Son
The Indian chess legend married Aruna Anand on June 27, 1996. Many predicted a downward spiral for Vishy, losing ELO points in the process. After all, chess is one of the most demanding games known to man, and the goddess Caissa doesn’t want sharing her champions.
But the critics of the marriage couldn’t have been farther from the truth! Anand not only won tournaments, ELO points, and world championships after the union. Vishy also held that dominant position for a long time, with Aruna eventually becoming his manager.
After fifteen years of marriage, Vishy and Aruna had their first son Akhil.
Citizenship Controversy
Vishy Anand brought many honors to his country India. But in 2010, just when the University of Hyderabad was planning to honor him with a doctorate, the government began casting doubts on the champion’s nationality.
Questions about his nationality stemmed from Anand’s Spanish citizenship. As a chess professional, living in Europe is a must if he is to gain access to all of the premiere chess events in the region.
Fortunately, the controversy ended in Anand’s favor, with the government (specifically HRD minister Kapil Sibal) apologizing personally.
