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Anish Giri’s heartfelt message to Viswanathan Anand goes viral as the chess world gears up for the FIDE Candidates Tournament in Cyprus.
Anish Giri is a self-proclaimed Viswanathan Anand fan (Picture credit: X @tatasteelchess)
Dutch chess Grandmaster Anish Giri’s heartwarming message for Indian legend Viswanathan Anand has gone viral on social media.
Speaking to FIDE with two weeks ahead of the Candidates, Anand said that several players intrigued him, adding that all of them have equal capability to go on and win the Candidates and eventually challenge D Gukesh for the world champion’s title.
Eight top players in the Open category will battle for top honours when the Candidates Tournament gets underway in Cyprus on March 28, with the winner earning the right to challenge Gukesh for the world title later this year.
“I think Fabi (Fabiano), Hikaru (Nakamura), Anish (Giri)… you know this is got to be their time, so they will have that feeling going into it that this is a chance to grab… and a lot of wildcards,” Anand said.
♟️ Does Viswanathan Anand have a personal favorite in the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026?The 5-time World Champion shares his thoughts on the upcoming battle to decide the challenger for the world title. Watch the full interview on FIDE’s YouTube channel!
Here’s what you need… pic.twitter.com/IZtkYqx6al
— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) March 16, 2026
“Call me a weirdo, but I feel so proud, having a chess hero of mine even just mention my name when giving an interview,” Giri tweeted in the wee hours of Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Cyprus has drawn attention as the host venue because of its proximity to the evolving Gulf conflict. In the women’s section of the FIDE Candidates Tournament, three Indian players are all set to compete for an opportunity to challenge reigning champion Ju Wenjun for the world title.
March 17, 2026, 09:18 IST
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