Vishy Anand meets young chess talents in Cyprus

Legendary chess Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand, five-time World Champion and FIDE Deputy President, held a simultaneous exhibition game in Nicosia with 19 children and teenagers living in Cyprus. The event took place within the framework of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix, with Freedom24 as its General Partner.

Before the game, participants took part in an open talk with Viswanathan Anand, where they had the opportunity to ask the chess legend questions about his career, mindset, and motivation. The session was moderated by Michael Rahal, FIDE Press Officer and International Master, and sparked engaging discussions on how chess shapes thinking, builds discipline, and develops perseverance.

In a remarkable moment, 14-year-old Andreas Kyriakides held Anand to a draw, earning praise from both the grandmaster and spectators.

Mark Bryan, head of SIMBA Trainers Academy, was impressed by how focused and excited the children were. Some managed to hold their ground for quite a while, and it was clear how proud they were of their performance. Bryan noted that people often forget how much effort it takes to achieve a goal, and he was pleased to hear Anand speak about the importance of daily practice and commitment to improvement.

The event drew participants from the Freedom24 Chess Academy, where children from across Cyprus receive chess education and mentorship. “Even the youngest players gave the former World Champion a real challenge,” said Artem Sadovsky, International Master and Head of Freedom24 Chess Academy. “Seven-year-old Anya Vasileva played remarkably well, despite a complicated pawn structure. Anand glanced at her board several times, clearly impressed by how confidently she held her ground.”

After the exhibition game, Anand greeted all participants with warm encouragement, signing autographs and posing for photos, a reminder that even the greatest champions were once beginners.

Anand's three records

● First Indian Grandmaster (1988). Today there are more than 100 grandmasters in the country. At the 2024 Olympics in Budapest, both the Indian men's and women's teams won gold. Three months later, 18-year-old Gukesh Dommaraju became the 18th world champion.

● The oldest Grandmaster (55) in the elite 2700+ club, which now includes 31 chess players with ratings above that mark. Seven of them are Indian nationals.

● The only chess player in the world to win the top title in competitions with three different formats (knockout system, round-robin tournament, and match).