Chennai, Chess, Cricket
A Day to Remember for Vaishali, Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa, Anand, and Ashwin, and the City They Represent
The past few days have brought the sporting spotlight back to Chennai. Chennai, a city known for its rich sporting culture, has once again been on the headlines. This time, it’s through the achievements of its renowned athletes in chess and cricket. On 22nd September, the spotlight was on Vaishali, Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa, Anand, and Ashwin, as they demonstrated their prowess in their respective sports, bringing glory not only to themselves but also to their beloved city.
Chess Triumphs in Budapest
At the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Budapest, the Indian men’s chess team clinched a historic gold medal. They finished a staggering four points ahead of their closest competitors in the open section. The women’s team also emerged victorious, marking only the second time since the Soviet era that a country has won gold in both sections, with China achieving this feat in 2018.
This victory was particularly sweet for India, having narrowly missed out on double gold at the 2020 Olympiad held in Chennai, where they settled for double bronze. This time, the Indian team set a new record with 21 out of 22 match points, surpassing the previous high of 20/22 set by the United States in 2016.
Grandmasters Gukesh Dommaraju and Arjun Erigaisi each won gold medals on their respective boards. Gukesh dazzled with a 9/10 score and a tournament performance rating (TPR) of 3,056, while Arjun achieved a TPR of 2,968. Gukesh’s performance propelled him to world number 5 in live ratings, and Arjun moved up to world number 3. And on the women’s side, the biggest team heroes were the youngest players, 21-year-old International Master Vantika (7.5/9 and individual gold on board four) and 18-year-old International Master Divya (9.5/11 and individual gold on board three).
In India, cricket is often likened to chess, with its strategic depth and calculated moves. Conversely, chess has elements of cricket, requiring patience and precision. Both sports share a strong connection to Chennai, a city that has produced numerous champions in both fields.
A Historic Day for Indian Chess
With Vishwanathan Anand still ranked world number 10, India now boasts three players in the top 10 — Gukesh, Arjun, and Praggnanandhaa, who is world number 12. This dominance is unprecedented outside of Russia and China. Chennai lad Gukesh, the youngest-ever challenger to the world chess title, is set to compete against China’s Ding Liren in the FIDE World Championship Match in Singapore from 20th November to 15th December.
The Legacy of Vishwanathan Anand
Gukesh’s rise is a testament to the chess culture fostered by Chennai, largely inspired by Vishwanathan Anand, whose emergence in the late 1980s revolutionized Indian chess. Anand’s impact is echoed in the words of Japan-born American chess grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura, who praised Anand for inspiring generations of Indian kids.
Chennai and Tamil Nadu have produced around 26 grandmasters, the highest in the country, with six grandmasters emerging since 2020. This vibrant chess culture continues to thrive, with Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa leading the charge.
Ashwin — The Anand of Indian Cricket
Ravichandran Ashwin, another Chennai-born athlete, has been a champion performer for India in cricket. His recent match-winning century and six-wicket haul against Bangladesh at the MA Chidambaram Stadium earned him the man-of-the-match title. Ashwin’s Test match numbers place him among the greatest in cricket history, with 522 wickets in 101 Tests, surpassing legends like Courtney Walsh.
Ashwin’s achievements include 37 five-wicket hauls in innings, a feat matched only by Shane Warne and Muthiah Muralidaran. His ability to score a hundred and take five wickets in the same Test has been accomplished four times, second only to Ian Botham. Since his Test debut in November 2011, Ashwin has been instrumental in India’s dominance in home Tests, with 315 Test wickets in India since 2013.
Chennai — The Cradle of Champions
Chennai’s sporting ethos is evident in the achievements of Anand, Praggnanandhaa, Gukesh, and Ashwin. With Anand gradually transforming into the most influential Chess mentor in the country, with Gukesh’s aggressive yet strategic play, Praggnanandhaa’s pragmatic play, and Vaishali’s attacking and victorious play, the city’s impact on their chess careers could not be showcased better.
Ashwin is a very proud Chennai boy and he never fails to highlight it in any opportunity he gets, and he wears his Chennainess very proudly on his sleeves. Much more than Anand does. I recently finished reading his book “I Have the Streets” and he reinforces this fact through many “Kutti stories” he narrates in the book. His flair for Tamil movies, music and meme references — all quintessentially Chennai — flow in Ashwin’s articulate ways, suggesting clearly the impact of the city in his evolution as a player and individual. While Anand is primarily a chess enthusiast with little connection to cricket, Ashwin, on the other hand, co-owns the American Gambits, a team set to compete in the franchise-based Global Chess League.
Vishy Anand and Gukesh approach chess much like a Test cricket match, mastering the art of patience during the middle phases before striking decisively in the final moments. Their waiting game is a strategy, always geared toward securing a major victory.
The achievements of Vaishali, Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa, Anand, and Ashwin have made Chennai proud. Their success is a testament to the city’s rich sporting heritage and its ability to nurture champions. Whether in chess or cricket, Chennai continues to be a cradle of excellence, inspiring future generations to strive for greatness.
