From mentor to rival: Anand to face his pupils at Tata Steel Rapid and Blitz Chess India

| Archiman Bhaduri | TNN | Jan 7, 2026, 11:18 IST

KOLKATA: For decades, Viswanathan Anand carried Indian chess on his shoulders, becoming a rare sporting figure who inspired entire generations. Now, after a six-year absence from competitive action in India, the five-time world champion is set to return to the board with both legacy and pride at stake when he begins his campaign at the Tata Steel Rapid and Blitz Chess India tournament here on Wednesday.

Tired of too many ads?go ad free now

Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!

Still ranked among the world’s elite, the 56-year-old will face a uniquely personal challenge — coming up against his own pupils.

While reigning world champion D Gukesh has opted to skip the event, a formidable Indian trio in Arjun Erigaisi, R Praggnanandhaa and Nihal Sarin will headline the title challenge. All three are products of the WestBridge Anand Chess Academy (WACA), founded in Dec 2020, and arrive in red-hot form.

07:13

GM Raunak Sadhwani Exclusive: Becoming Grandmaster at 13, hidden costs of the game, and more #chess