FIDE World Chess Championship 2000
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The FIDE World Chess Championship 2000, held in New Delhi and Tehran, used a knockout format with 100 players. Viswanathan Anand of India defeated Alexei Shirov in the final, claiming his first world title and becoming the first Indian World Chess Champion. A milestone event that sparked a chess revolution in India.
📷 Viswanathan Anand vs Alexander Khalifman, Dortmund 2000
Photographer: Gerhard Hund (License: CC BY 3.0) via Wikimedia Commons
Winner: Viswanathan Anand
Born: December 11, 1969, in Madras (now Chennai), India
By 2000, Anand was a fan favorite known for his speed, clarity, and deadly tactical awareness. He had already challenged for the classical title in 1995 and entered the event as a top seed. Throughout the knockout, he crushed opponents with style and consistency. His win in Tehran not only crowned him FIDE World Champion but launched a new era for chess in India.
«For me, chess is about resilience and the joy of competition.» – Viswanathan Anand
Key Opponent: Alexei Shirov
Born: July 4, 1972, Riga, Latvian SSR (now Latvia)
Shirov, one of the most imaginative players of his generation, was famed for fire on the board and sharp, original play. He had narrowly missed out on a title match in 1998 and entered the 2000 championship in brilliant form. Despite a strong run to the final, he was swept aside by Anand’s precision and form, finishing second but reaffirming his status as a world-class player.
“He made it look smooth, but this was one of the toughest tournaments I’ve ever seen.” – Alexei Shirov
Match Overview
🗓️ Match Dates: November 27 – December 24, 2000
📍 Location: New Delhi, India & Tehran, Iran
✅ Format: 100-player knockout (Final: Best of 6 games)
⏱️ Time Control: 100 min/40 moves, 50 min/20 moves, then 10 min to finish + 30 sec increment from move 1
💰 Prize Fund: $3,000,000 total; $530,000 to the winner
📄 Main Sponsors: FIDE, Indian Government, Iranian Chess Federation
Historical and Cultural Context
Anand’s win came at a time when chess was split, with two competing titles: FIDE’s knockout format and the classical championship cycle. His win didn’t unify the title—but it galvanized India. The final, broadcast from Tehran, drew huge viewership in South Asia. Anand’s success boosted chess across the region, leading to a new wave of Indian grandmasters, sponsorship, and national pride.
Final Score
| Player | W–L–D | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Viswanathan Anand | 3 – 0 (1 draw) | 3½ |
| Alexei Shirov | 0 – 3 (1 draw) | ½ |
Anand’s Path to the Title
To reach the final, Anand defeated Viktor Bologan, Smbat Lputian, Bartłomiej Macieja, reigning champion Alexander Khalifman, and Michael Adams.
FIDE World Chess Championship 2000 Games
Game 1
Game 2
Game 3
Game 4
Game 5
Game 6
Game 7
Game 8
Game 9
Game 10
Game 11
Game 12
Game 13
Game 14
Game 15
Game 16
Game 17
Game 18
Game 19
Game 20
FIDE World Chess Championship 2000
Viswanathan Anand, India
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FIDE World Chess Championship 2000 Sources
Quote Sources
- FIDE Press Conference: Anand on winning the title
- New in Chess Magazine: Shirov’s reflection on the final
General Sources
- FIDE Archives: Official match records
- ChessBase: Match coverage and player interviews
- New in Chess 2001/1: Tournament wrap-up
- The Hindu: Indian media reaction to Anand’s win
- The Guardian: Global perspective on the split titles
- Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung: Coverage of FIDE structure and event
- Deutsche Schachzeitung: 2000 event analysis
- Chess Life (USCF): Monthly report on the FIDE cycle
- Shakhmaty v Rossii: Russian commentary on the event and Anand
- La Nación (Argentina): Spanish-language reporting of the final
- Wikipedia:
Photo Credits
📷 Viswanathan Anand vs Alexander Khalifman, Dortmund 2000
Photographer: Gerhard Hund (License: CC BY 3.0) via Wikimedia Commons
Sources, image credits, and attributions for this championship are listed on this page. For general information about the World Chess Champions timeline, visit the main page.