There is no age to be talented. Aged only three years, seven months, and 20 days, the young Indian Sarwagya Singh Kushwaha became the youngest chess player ranked by the International Chess Federation (Fide). The prodigy surpassed the previous record of his compatriot Anish Sarkar, who was three years, eight months, and 19 days when he entered the Fide rankings in November last year.
Kushwaha, attending kindergarten in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh (central), obtained a rapid game ranking of 1,572, the federation indicates on its site. To obtain a Fide ranking, a player must beat at least one ranked player.
A ranking is a score obtained based on a chess player’s performance but does not represent a rank. World number one Magnus Carlsen is first in the Fide world rapid chess rankings with a ranking of 2,824.
A “source of great pride and honor”
The father of the young Indian player, quoted in local media, said his son’s feat was a “source of great pride and honor”. “We want him to become grandmaster,” he added. Sarwagya Singh Kushwaha defeated three ranked players in tournaments in his state and other parts of the country to achieve his status.
India is a breeding ground for chess grandmasters and has produced stars such as the latest world champion Gukesh Dommaraju and five-time World Cup winner Viswanathan Anand.
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