Viswanathan Anand is among the richest chess gamers within the nation for the time being, having racked up loads of prize cash from his exploits around the globe, together with successful the coveted World Chess Championship 5 occasions. However there was a time when a a lot youthful Anand had gained simply eight rupees as prize cash for successful a junior event.
Anand revealed this in an interview with The Bombay Journey not too long ago whereas being pushed round his residence metropolis of Chennai. Requested in regards to the prices concerned in being an elite grandmaster and the prize cash high chess gamers could make, Anand stated: “I bear in mind as soon as in my chess membership they’d a small event and first prize was eight rupees. So I assumed I can deal with myself. I (gained and) took this eight rupees. There’s a resort proper behind the chess membership, so I went there had a full dosa and sambar and I had one drink of some juice. I might pay for it with my prize cash, so it was a very good factor.”
Anand added that this was when he was simply an eight-year-old, so the event was within the late Nineteen Seventies. Anand not too long ago ranked at No 36 in The Indian Categorical’ IE 100 record of strongest individuals in India in 2025.
Anand added: “Again in these days (after I began taking part in) — to begin with, you need to add that I don’t assume anybody now remembers such figures — you could possibly have a full meal in Bombay for 5 rupees, this was these occasions. So costs have been comparable.”
For context, Gukesh, who turned the youngest world champion in chess historical past final yr, took residence a complete prize cash of $15,77,842 (roughly Rs 13.6 crore) in 2024 from all his tournaments mixed. For successful the World Chess Championship alone, he earned over Rs 11 crore.
