India's chess wizard Viswanathan Anand talks to MiD DAY's Manisha Mohite on his life's journey

8 years: Just 10 days after learning chess, I participated in the 1977 Tal Chess Club tournament at Madras. I lost the first three games and my opponent did not turn up for the fourth game, giving me a point. The amount of happiness I felt at that particular moment is difficult to describe and they also gave me a certificate for perseverance u2014 for turning up for all the games despite losing.

14u00a0years: First national level success, winning 9/9 in 1983. That was a good event and I won the first international medal , a bronze one at the 1984 World Sub-junior Chess Championship.