‘Vishy Is The Godfather’: Hikaru Nakamura Hails Indian Grandmaster Anand’s Impact On Chess

Chess grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura has praised the rise of Indian chess while calling Viswanathan Anand the “godfather” of the country’s chess revolution. Speaking to Hindustan Times during the Esports World Cup in Paris, Nakamura said Anand remains the best Indian player ever and credited his achievements with inspiring a new generation of grandmasters. Nakamura highlighted the emergence of D Gukesh, R Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi, Nihal Sarin and other young Indian players, saying the future of Indian chess is “very bright”. He also pointed to India’s growing acceptance of chess as a legitimate career path, contrasting it with attitudes in countries such as the United States.