Viswanathan Anand is World Chess Champion, having won the World Chess Championship five times (2000, 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2012), and India’s first Chess Grandmaster (1988). He was the undisputed World Champion 2007-2013, and is the only World Champion to have taken the World Championship title in three formats, knockout,... Read more
Viswanathan Anand is World Chess Champion, having won the World Chess Championship five times (2000, 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2012), and India’s first Chess Grandmaster (1988). He was the undisputed World Champion 2007-2013, and is the only World Champion to have taken the World Championship title in three formats, knockout, tournament, and a classical match.
In 2000 he became the first Asian to win the World Chess Championship, and the only non-Soviet to successfully retain a World Championship title twice. He is widely considered the strongest rapid player of his generation, and was the FIDE World Rapid Chess Champion in 2003.
Anand is an inspirational speaker, who keenly promotes the game in his vivid presentations, through innovative methods and fascinating insights.
Anand started playing Chess at six, and by 14 was the “Boy Wonder” of Indian chess. His lightning speed, ability to see and read the game far ahead, as well as great intuition, saw him become the first Indian to win the World Junior Chess Championship in 1987. In 1988, at the age of eighteen, he became India’s first Grandmaster, and was awarded Padma Shri. He was also the first recipient of the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in 1991–92, India’s highest sporting honour.
He held the FIDE World Chess Championship from 2000 to 2002, at a time when the world title was split, but became the undisputed World Champion in 2007. Anand went on to successfully defend his title in the World Chess Championships of; 2008 against Vladimir Kramnik; 2010 against Veselin Topalov; and 2012 against Boris Gelfand.
In 2007, he received India’s second highest civilian award, the Padma Vibhushan, making him the first sportsperson to receive the award in Indian history. He has also won the Chess Oscar six times (1997, 1998, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008), and received the “Indian sportsperson of the year” and “Indian of the year” awards in 2012.
Viswanathan Anand joined the Board of Directors of Olympic Gold Quest in 2010, a foundation for promoting and supporting India’s elite sportspersons and potential young talent. He is known as the “One man Indian Chess revolution” whose ambition it is to be able to take chess to the grass roots level. He is a spokesperson for many causes, and is associated with Vidyasagar (an NGO for spastic and autistic children) and is very closely associated with the NIIT Mind Champions Academy.
In 1998 he received the British Chess Federation “Book of the Year” Award for his book ‘My Best Games of Chess’, which was updated in 2001.
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You can book Viswanathan Anand through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Viswanathan's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.
Viswanathan Anand's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for Viswanathan tailored to your event.
Viswanathan Anand speaks on a range of business, leadership and industry subjects. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with Viswanathan to align the content with your delegates and goals.
London Speaker Bureau can book Viswanathan Anand for events worldwide, subject to Viswanathan's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.
Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether Viswanathan Anand is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).
Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what Viswanathan can accommodate.
London Speaker Bureau will brief Viswanathan Anand on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what Viswanathan can offer.
Viswanathan Anand delivers keynotes in English. This profile may not list every language available; ask London Speaker Bureau to confirm. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.
Viswanathan Anand's areas of expertise include a range of business, leadership and industry subjects. To get a clear sense of Viswanathan's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.
Viswanathan Anand can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in a range of business, leadership and industry subjects is relevant. Details of Viswanathan's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.
Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what Viswanathan Anand is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.
We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with Viswanathan Anand, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Viswanathan's current availability for your dates.