In a stunning feat of youthful brilliance, a three-year-old boy from India has shattered a global chess record. Sarwagya Singh Kushwaha, at the tender age of three years, seven months, and 20 days, is now officially the youngest chess player in history to earn a rating from FIDE, the International Chess Federation.
A Record Tumbles in Madhya Pradesh
The young prodigy, who attends nursery school in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, has eclipsed the previous milestone set by his compatriot. He surpasses Anish Sarkar, who achieved the feat in November last year at three years, eight months, and 19 days old. Kushwaha's remarkable achievement was not handed to him; he earned it through competition, securing victories over multiple adult opponents who already held FIDE ratings.
To obtain an official rating, a player must defeat at least one opponent who is already rated by FIDE. Kushwaha did far more than that, triumphing over three rated players in tournaments across his home state and other regions of India. His current rapid chess rating stands at an impressive 1,572. For context, the world number one, Magnus Carlsen, holds a rapid rating of 2,824.
Family Pride and Grandmaster Dreams
The record-breaking success is the result of intense dedication. Kushwaha practises chess for four to five hours every single day, balancing his passion with his early education. His family is understandably overjoyed by his unprecedented accomplishment.
"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 a FIDE ranking," his father, Siddharth Singh, told the Indian news channel ETV Bharat. He added a bold aspiration for his son's future: "We want him to become a grandmaster."
India's Chess Powerhouse Nurtures Another Talent
This historic moment further cements India's status as a formidable incubator of chess talent. The nation is a stable of grandmasters and has produced legendary figures like the five-time World Cup winner Viswanathan Anand and the new world champion, Gukesh Dommaraju. The emergence of a prodigy as young as Sarwagya Singh Kushwaha signals that the country's deep chess culture continues to thrive and produce extraordinary players from the very earliest ages.
While a FIDE rating measures a player's current strength based on performance against other rated players, it is distinct from a world ranking. Nevertheless, securing one at such a young age is a clear indicator of exceptional potential. The chess world will be watching closely to see how this young record-holder's journey unfolds.
