A three-year-old boy from India has etched his name into the history books of chess, becoming the youngest person ever to earn an official rating from the World Chess Federation (FIDE).
A Record-Shattering Achievement
Sarwagya Singh Kushwaha, from the Sagar district in Madhya Pradesh, achieved this monumental feat at the tender age of three years, seven months, and 20 days. His accomplishment shatters the previous record held by his compatriot, Anish Sarkar, who was three years, eight months, and 19 days old when he was rated in November 2024.
To put this into perspective, Sarwagya is still in nursery school and is so small that he often needs to stand on a chair or stack three chairs together just to see and reach across the chessboard during his matches.
The Path to a Historic Rating
Earning a FIDE rating is no small task. A player must defeat at least one already-rated opponent in an official tournament. Sarwagya did not just meet the minimum requirement; he surpassed it spectacularly by beating three rated players across different events.
His historic run began at the 24th RCC International FIDE Rated Rapid Cup in Mangaluru, where he toppled 22-year-old Abhijeet Awasthi, who held a rating of 1,542. He then secured a victory over 29-year-old Shubham Chourasiya (rated 1,559) at the Shri Dadaji Dhuniwale Open in Khandwa. His final qualifying win came against 20-year-old Yogesh Namdev, rated 1,696, at the Dr Ajit Kasliwal Memorial Rapid Championship in Indore.
These victories earned him an initial rapid rating of 1,572. For context, while this measures playing strength, the world's top player, Magnus Carlsen, leads the rapid ratings with a staggering 2,824 points.
The Making of a Prodigy
Sarwagya's journey began when he was just two and a half years old. His parents, Siddharth Singh and his wife, quickly noticed their son's sponge-like ability to absorb information. Remarkably, within one week of his first chess lesson, he could correctly identify all the pieces on the board.
His training regimen is intense for any age, let alone for a toddler. He dedicates four to five hours daily to chess. This includes one hour at a training centre, supplemented by online games, puzzles, and video lessons. His father reveals that Sarwagya's passion is so profound that he would willingly wake up in the middle of the night to play and can focus at the board for hours without restlessness.
His coach, Nitin Chaurasiya, shared that initial training required motivation with treats like toffees and chips, as a stern tone would make the boy cry. However, the coach soon discovered an unusual trait in his young pupil: immense confidence and "guts" when facing much older and experienced opponents across the board.
"It is a matter of great pride and honour," said his elated father, Siddharth Singh, who expressed the family's hope that Sarwagya will one day become a grandmaster.
A New Era of Talent
Chess officials in Madhya Pradesh hail Sarwagya as a symbol of a new generation of talent emerging from the region. The state is already celebrating other rising stars, such as Madhvendra Pratap Sharma, who recently won two major international gold medals.
Sarwagya Singh Kushwaha's story is more than just a record; it is a powerful testament to early childhood potential and the global, age-defying appeal of the game of chess.
