When Indian chess legend Viswanathan Anand earned Rs8 for winning a tournament

Dubai: Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand is easily one of the richest sportsperson in India. After having won the World Chess Championship an impressive five times, the 55-year-old's net worth is estimated to be around Rs430 million.

But did you know there was a time when the current Fide vice-president won as little as Rs8 when he won a junior tournament in the late 1970s during his early days of chess.

Recalling his early days of playing chess, he told The Bombay Journey during an interview: “I remember once in my chess club they had a small tournament and first prize was Rs8. So I thought I can treat myself. I (won and) took this Rs8. There’s a hotel right behind the chess club, so I went there had a full dosa and sambar and I had one drink of some juice. I could pay for it with my prize money, so it was a good thing,”

Anand became the first Indian to achieve the title of Grandmaster in 1988. He dominated the global chess scene for decades, becoming World Champion in multiple formats between 2000 and 2012. He was the undisputed World Champion from 2007 to 2013 and had defeated legends like Vladimir Kramnik, Veselin Topalov, and Boris Gelfand in title matches.

“Back in those days — and I don’t think anyone now remembers such figures — you could have a full meal in Bombay for Rs5. So prices were comparable,” he added.