We all know chess requires lots of patience and strategies which usually take many years to master, but another three-year-old boy from India has left everyone in shock. Sarwagya Singh Kushwaha of Sagar in Madhya Pradesh became the youngest player in history to get an official rating from FIDE. He achieved this feat at the age of three years, seven months, and 20 days, for which many grown-ups strive for years together.
Breaking Records at a Tender Age
- Rapid rating: 1,572
- Beginning players’ base rating: 1,400
- World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen’s rapid rating: 2,824
The feat by Sarwagya broke the record held by another Indian whiz kid, Anish Sarkar, who was three years, eight months, and 19 days old when he received his rating last year. With this record, Sarwagya has etched his name in history books, breaking the record set by Sarkar.
How He Earned His Rating
A player needs to defeat at least one rated opponent in official tournaments to earn a FIDE rating. Sarwagya went one step further, beating three rated players in different competitions:
- September – 24th RCC Rapid Rated Cup in Mangaluru: defeated a 1542-rated player.
- October – 2nd Shri Dadaji Dhuniwale Rapid Rating Open in Khandwa beat a 1559-rated opponent.
- November: Chhindwara and Indore tournaments – defeated the same 1542-rated player again and later a stronger 1696-rated opponent.
These wins made him the youngest rated player in the world.
Training and Dedication
All the more remarkable is Sarwagya’s story because of his commitment at such a tender age.
- He practices four to five hours every day.
- One hour at a training center, the rest online and through videos.
- Displays unusual patience, sitting at the board for long stretches without restlessness.
His father shared that Sarwagya’s love for chess is so deep that he would happily play even if woken up in the middle of the night.
Role of His Coach
His coach, Nitin Chaurasiya, devised innovative ways to keep Sarwagya motivated. While the kid cried, complaining that training was too strict, small rewards like toffees or crisps would put him into serious frame of mind and correct his moves. And soon, his natural talent started showing, and he proved himself capable of giving a tough fight to players older than him. This proves coaching plays a significant role in skill development.
Family Support and Future Dreams
Sarwagya’s parents introduced him to chess to cut down screen time but soon realized his extraordinary ability. A week into learning the game, he could name all the pieces correctly.
His father proudly told Indian media:
“It’s a matter of great pride and honour for us that our son has become the youngest chess player in the world to achieve FIDE ranking. We want him to become a grandmaster.”
The family now plans to seek advanced coaching, including online training, to help him reach that goal. With this kind of young talent like Sarwagya, the country’s impact on world chess keeps increasing.
While most children his age are only beginning to learn their surroundings, Sarwagya Singh Kushwaha is competing with and beating adults. His feat is a sure example that talent has no age. With his hard work, family encouragement, and professional training, the journey of Sarwagya has just begun. The world will keenly watch this little boy grow, with hopes that one day, he becomes a grandmaster and inspires countless others to take up the beautiful game of chess. If you are motivated, feel free to read more interesting articles and meet the most experienced chess coaches at The New England Chess School.