Chess Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand’s Fascinating Story Goes Viral: A Reflection on Attitudes Towards Chess in India

The recent victory of the Indian chess team at the Chess Olympiad has sparked a newfound enthusiasm for the game, with a viral video featuring chess grandmaster Viswanathan Anand adding to the excitement. In the video shared on the podcast ‘DRS with Ash’ hosted by Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin, Anand shares a captivating story from his experience in Kerala.

Anand recounts a conversation with an elderly man during a train journey to a felicitation event in Kerala. When the man learned that Anand was a chess player, he expressed surprise and questioned Anand about his profession, suggesting that a career in sports, particularly chess, was uncertain in India. Despite Anand’s success in the field, the man advised caution and highlighted the risks involved.

Interestingly, when Ashwin asked Anand if he revealed his identity as Viswanathan Anand during the conversation, Anand admitted that he did not. The video of this anecdote shared on social media by Anil Padmanabhan has quickly gone viral, garnering 35,800 likes and sparking discussions about the Indian mentality towards pursuing a career in sports.

The engaging story shared by Viswanathan Anand has further fueled the growing interest in chess, following India’s recent triumph at the Chess Olympiad. As the video continues to circulate online, it serves as a reminder of the challenges and perceptions faced by athletes and professionals in the field of sports, resonating with many individuals who can relate to the struggles and uncertainties highlighted in Anand’s experience.