I had the privilege of meeting Fischer in 2006 when I went to Iceland. He was also keen to meet me. I was thrilled as Fischer and Tal are my favourite players. He had a direct style and it was very clean. I remember reading his best games and had thoroughly enjoyed it.

When we met he was extremely warm and spoke a lot. He knew a lot about India and asked many questions. I was really thrilled to see his pocket chess set. It was the same one he had used for a good part of his life and it was made specially for him. We analysed some games and I showed him some lines.

He was able to grasp quite easily and was very animated. I guess if you are chess player the curiosity never leaves you. After I won the world title at Mexico he sent his greetings. It is very sad to know that he is no more and suffered in the last years of his life. For many of us he was the reason we all got interested in the game. What he did for chess in 1972 is something that will be very difficult to equal. I am exceptionally honoured to be the only non-Soviet apart from Fischer to win the Chess Oscar four times. For me he is a personal hero and will always be my idol.

Viswanathan Anand as told to Manisha Mohite