A Supercharged Chess Battery!

Since July 1991, Viswanathan Anand Remained in the Top-10 List Till February 2016 — for 296 Months in Succession! And What More, After a Minor Glitch Lasting Four Months, Anand Has Returned to the Top-10 List for the Past Year! .

- Rakesh Rao

In any field of human activity,those who excel need no re-minding of the eternal truth that reaching the top is easier than staying there. In other words, it takes a lot more to maintain one’s position.

In the sporting arena, particularly in an individual discipline, there are legendary names who have left a mark not only by their feats but also with their consistency in maintaining high levels of excellence.

In the last three decades, performers like Tiger Woods, Roger Federer, Michael Schumacher, Lee Chong Wei, Serena Williams, etc., have carved a niche for themselves in their chosen fields. At the highest level, their performance coupled with amazing consistency has brought them status that is far beyond the reach of lesser mortals. In addition to achievements, longevity in the face of the toughest challenges is one factor that separates the legends from the rest.

VISWANATHAN ANAND, 47, tops the list when it comes to being consistent among the legendary names in chess. For around three decades, this five-time World champion and former World No. 1 has faced the best of brains in chess and stayed among the best for almost 26 years!

In fact, Anand almost defies the clichéd dictum, “Form is temporary, class is permanent.”

EVEN ANAND’S FORM seems permanent when one considers the fact that since July 1991, he remained in the top-10 list till February 2016 — for 296 months in succession! And what more, after a minor glitch lasting four months, Anand has returned to the top-10 list for the past year.

Anand’s consistency, one of the hallmarks of his career, can be further appreciated from the fact that he was ranked among the World’s top-five players from July 1996 to July 2012. That is, 192 consecutive months!