Viswanathan Anandathan Anand, known fondly as Vishy, is one of the most prominent names in chess. Over the three decades since he turned Grandmaster, he has won five World Championship titles among innumerable other tournaments and has continued to push past barriersto remain among the world's top chess players. His achievements have helped inspire a generation of chess players in India. Vishy is an astronomy buff, and an avid reader of maths, economics and current affairs. He loves to travel, and particularly enjoys wildlife safaris. He supports the cause of Indian sports, as Director of Olympic Gold Quest and mentor at the Westbridge Anand Chess Academy. Anand is the Ambassador for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) India's Environment Education programme and a spokesperson for the NIIT Foundation to create awareness about cybersecurity.

Susan Ninan is a sports writer with ESPN and is based in Bengaluru. She has previously worked with the Times of India, and has covered major sporting events like the Commonwealth Games and the World Chess Championships. When she is not writing on sport or travelling to find a story, she loves sniffing around bookstores and going backpacking, or at best making plans for the latter.