The Next Indian Chess Prodigy? 3-Year-Old Sarwagya Kushwaha Becomes FIDE's Youngest Ranked Player Ever

Last Updated:December 03, 2025, 12:10 IST

Sarwagya Singh Kushwaha from Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, became the youngest FIDE-ranked chess player at age 3, after defeating three international players.

Three-year-old chess prodigy Sarwagya Singh Kushwaha (X)

Three-year-old Sarwagya Singh Kushwaha from Madhya Pradesh probably can’t tell you what a FIDE rating is, and “Grandmaster" might just sound like a superhero title. But the chess world already knows his name.

At just 3 years, 7 months, and 20 days, Sarwagya has become the youngest rated chess player on the planet, officially recognised by the International Chess Federation (FIDE).

In the latest FIDE Rapid ratings, Sarwagya landed at 1,572nd, a number that might not shake the world yet, but the age attached to it certainly does.

Born in 2022, Sarwagya credits his success to his parents and coach. His rise is powered by hours of training with his personal coach, Nitin Chaurasia, and national instructor, Akash Pyaasi.

He’s also just broken a record held by another Indian wunderkind, Anish Sarkar of West Bengal, who earned his first FIDE rating at 3 years and 8 months. Sarwagya shaved off a whole week from that mark.

To even earn a FIDE rating, a player must defeat at least one internationally rated opponent. Sarwagya? He went ahead and beat three.

He’s already competed in multiple tournaments across Madhya Pradesh, from Bhopal to Mangaluru and beyond, taking down seasoned players while barely tall enough to see over the board.

The world’s youngest rated chess player has arrived. And he’s only just getting started.

About the Author

Siddarth Sriram

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His...Read More

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