The only man to go undefeated in the 2016 Candidates Tournament

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In a high-stakes arena where every move is scrutinized by the world's elite, Anish Giri achieved a feat of remarkable consistency. During the 2016 Candidates Tournament, he navigated 14 grueling games without a single loss—a singular display of endurance in one of chess's most prestigious competitions.

Born in Saint Petersburg in 1994 to a Russian mother and Nepalese father, Anish Giri’s path to the top of the chess world was defined by international movement. He lived in Japan from 2002 to 2008 before settling in the Dutch town of Rijswijk in 2008. This transition saw him switch his competitive allegiance from Russia to the Netherlands in 2009, where he eventually became the nation's No. 1 ranked player as of April 2026. His paternal grandmother is Indian. He graduated from Grotius College in Delft in June 2013.

Giri’s technical mastery was evident early on. He achieved the grandmaster title at just 14 years and 7 months old in 2009. His rise was marked by rapid rating growth, jumping from 2114 to 2672 between 2006 and 2010. This trajectory led him to major milestones, including winning the FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament in September 2025 and becoming the fourth Dutch player since 1968 to win a Tata Steel Chess Tournament (achieved in 2023). He first began playing chess with his mother at age six. His father worked for a research and consulting foundation.

His career is characterized by both historic stability and notable upsets. While he famously went undefeated in Moscow in 2016, his recent years have seen him face significant volatility at the highest levels. Giri achieved a historic win over Magnus Carlsen in classical chess during 2023, marking his first such triumph in 12 years; however, he suffered intense losses at other top-tier competitions like the Chess World Cup when underdogs pulled off surprises. In 2025, he finished joint fifth place at the Tata Steel tournament. He also became the first chess player signed by Team Secret.

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