3 Years & 7 Months Old Sarwagya Kushawha Becomes Youngest Chess Player To Get FIDE Rapid Rating

At just three years, seven months, and 13 days old, Sarwagya, who hails from Sagar in the north-central region of Madhya Pradesh, has a Rapid Rating of 1572 in the international chess federation’s (FIDE) December rating list.

Sarwagya’s journey into chess began when his parents introduced him to the game to reduce his screen time. He competed in his first Rapid Rating tournament — the 24th RCC Rapid Rated Cup in Mangaluru — in September, where he beat a 1542-rated player.

He then went on to win against a 1559-rated opponent at the 2nd Shri Dadaji Dhuniwale Rapid Rating Open in October in the Khandwa district of his state.

Last month, he competed in two rapid rating tournaments in the MP towns of Chhindwara and Indore, where he beat the same 1542-rated player in the first event and a 1696-rated opponent in the next to earn his first rating.

To earn a FIDE rating, a player must beat at least one international player, but Sarwagya ended up beating three across tournaments.

In November last year, Anish Sarkar became the world’s youngest FIDE-rated player at the age of 3 years and 10 months.

This achievement adds to India’s rising prominence in the sport. D Gukesh is currently the world champion, while Divya Deshmukh is the women’s World Cup winner.

(With inputs from PTI)

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