In a remarkable feat of intellect and patience, Sarwagya Singh Kushwaha, a three-year-old boy from Madhya Pradesh, India, has become the youngest player in chess history to earn an official FIDE rating.
At just 3 years, 7 months, and 20 days old, the nursery school student has surpassed the previous record set by fellow Indian Anish Sarkar by nearly a month.
Sarwagya’s debut rapid rating from FIDE – the International Chess Federation – stands at an impressive 1572, significantly above the minimum threshold of 1400, reported AFP.
To achieve this, a player must score points against at least five rated opponents in official events – a challenge Sarwagya met with poise and skill far beyond his years.
According to his father, Sarwagya began playing chess around the age of two-and-a-half. “We noticed his mind was like a sponge – he picked up new things very quickly.”
“Within a week of being introduced to chess, he could name all the pieces accurately,” Siddharth Singh Kushwaha told The Indian Express.
What followed was a disciplined routine. Sarwagya now plays chess for up to five hours a day, including dedicated time at a training centre.
He also watches videos to refine his techniques, demonstrating a level of focus that’s rare in toddlers.
Sarwagya has already defeated adult players in rated tournaments to secure his place in the history books.
His notable victories include matches against 20-year-old Yogesh Namdev (rating 1696), 22-year-old Abhijeet Awasthi (1542), and 29-year-old Shubham Chourasiya (1559).
The toddler’s achievement comes at a time when Indian chess is on the rise, noted the Hindustan Times.
Last year, Gukesh Dommaraju, then 18, became the youngest world chess champion, defeating China’s Ding Liren.
India is also home to five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand and a growing pool of young talent making waves on the global stage.
While Sarwagya’s journey has just begun, his parents are already nurturing bigger dreams.
“We want him to become a grandmaster,” Mr Siddharth said.
The current world record for youngest grandmaster is held by American Abhimanyu Mishra, who earned the title at age 12 years, four months, and 25 days.
For now, however, the Kushwaha family is simply proud.
“Whatever may be the achievement of Sarwagya, it would be good for us,” said his mother Neha Singh Kushwaha. “God has blessed our child.”
