Viswanathan Anand, five-time world chess champion, has profoundly influenced Indian chess beyond his personal achievements. In December 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he partnered with WestBridge Capital to establish the WestBridge-Anand Chess Academy (WACA). This initiative aimed to mentor and train young chess prodigies like Gukesh, during a period when competitive tournaments were halted.
Gukesh’s Meteoric Rise
D Gukesh, a standout alumnus of WACA, made history in December 2024 by defeating Chinese Grandmaster Ding Liren and becoming the youngest world chess champion at 18.
Gukesh praised Anand’s mentorship and expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity to learn from the chess legend. He recalled how the academy kept players focused during the pandemic while many struggled to stay motivated. “It was super exciting for me, and I’m sure a lot of youngsters, because getting in touch with Vishy sir, to discuss chess with him regularly, was so motivating that the lockdown, the pandemic, didn’t feel like a waste of time,” Gukesh said.
Also Read: Gukesh: Open to All Chess Formats, but Classical Remains King
WACA: Nurturing Future Champions
WACA began operations in January 2021, selecting five promising players: D Gukesh, R Praggnanandhaa, Nihal Sarin, R Vaishali, and Raunak Sadhwani. Through its mentorship, the academy has helped India emerge as a global chess powerhouse.
Anand’s Vision and Legacy
Anand envisioned WACA as more than just individual mentorship. He created a platform to mentor both established and upcoming chess players, aiming to produce more champions for India.
Grandmasters Sandipan Chanda, Artur Yusupov, Grzegorz Gajewski, and Boris Gelfand joined Anand to form the academy’s founding mentor team.
India’s Chess Renaissance
The impact of WACA is evident in India’s recent chess achievements. In 2024, both the men’s and women’s teams clinched gold medals at the Chess Olympiad, marking an unprecedented accomplishment in the country’s history
Additionally, Gukesh’s rise to the world championship has inspired a new generation of players, further solidifying India’s position on the global chess stage.
Also Read: Pranav Venkatesh: The New World Junior Chess Champion from India
