Episode 118 of The Prakhar Gupta Xperience features Viswanathan Anand, one of the greatest chess players of all time. He is a five-time World Champion and was the first Grandmaster from India. His journey has inspired millions and helped make chess popular across the country. Known for his calm mind and sharp thinking, Anand has received many top honours, including the Padma Vibhushan.Beyond the board, Anand is a proud father to 12-year-old Akhil, a prodigious talent in art and mathematics. Akhil has a deep fascination with patterns and often blends his love for both subjects by spotting mathematical beauty in the world around him. He has written a book titled The Heart of Math: A Young Boy’s Passion for Art, Math and Pattern, which showcases his unique way of seeing the world.

This is what we talked about:00:00 - Intro01:06 - Gukesh vs Magnus06:46 - Cheating in Chess

16:22 - Samay’s Impact on Indian Chess

20:15 - Vishy’s Impact on Indian Chess

26:24 - Rating His Juniors

31:58 - Why South India Dominates Chess

33:17 - Arjun vs Gukesh vs Prag

33:34 - Vishy’s Favourite Rivalry

35:48 - Vishy vs Magnus

41:12 - Computers in Chess

48:12 - Kasparov vs Deep Blue

53:16 - How the Mind of a Grandmaster Works

56:19 - Levon vs Vishy (2013)

01:16:20 - Vishy on Mikhail Tal

01:22:05 - Who Was Paul Morphy?

01:24:06 - Can Chess Make You Insane?

01:30:37 - How chess players make money?

01:38:46 - Learning from His Spouse

01:40:26 - What’s Next for Vishy

01:43:28 - Vishy’s Question for Prakhar