Who said what as Viswanathan Anand wins World Rapid Chess Championship

India’s star chess player Viswanathan Anand won the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship on Thursday, as he defeated Russia’s Vladimir Fedoseev in the final playoff round 2-0 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The Indian Grandmaster has been in great form this tournament, finishing joint top on points after 15 rounds of gruelling chess. Anand finished the 15 rounds with 10.5 points, the same as Fedoseev and Ian Nepomniachtchi, also of Russia.

However, Nepomniachtchi had a poor progressive score in the tournament, leaving Anand and Fedoseev to fight it out in the playoff, which the Indian GM eventually clinched 2-0.

Interestingly, Anand had also defeated old foe Magnus Carlsen on his way to the playoff match. Carlsen, who had earned the victory against the Indian GM in the World Chess Championship in 2013, could not match up to Anand’s moves.

This win was obviously a special moment for Anand, as he himself took to Twitter, to thank all those who wished him. He also gave everyone a glimpse into what was going on inside the brilliant mind that won the tournament – “We are the champions”!

Chess legend Gary Kasparov also took to Twitter to wish Anand. In his own inimitable style, Kasparov slammed Anand’s detractors, especially those who say that he should retire.

Indian chess star Tania Sachdev also complimented Anand on the achievement.

However, the best reaction from Anand’s win was from his wife Aruna Anand, who said she wanted to fly off the Ryiadh at that very moment.

Anand’s victory set the Chess community ablaze, as a number of current and former stars from around the world of chess poured in their good words for the 48-year-old on Twitter. Here are some of the best reactions.