While most kids his age are engrossed in cartoons like Peppa Pig or Chhota Bheem, or simply playing with toys, young Anish Sarkar found his fascination in the silent strategy of chess pieces, leading to a journey few could fathom. At just three years, eight months and 19 days, the boy from Kaikhali in north Kolkata became the youngest rated chess player in history on Friday. Born on January 26, 2021, Anish made his debut in competitive chess at the West Bengal State Under-9 Open in October, scoring an impressive 5.5 out of 8 points and finishing 24th overall by beating two highly rated players beat: Arav Chatterjee and Ahilaan Baishya.
He was also fortunate to have the opportunity to play against Indian No. 1 Grandmaster and World No. 4 Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi in a simultaneous exhibition match at the Bengal Rapid Rating Open.
Just a week later, Anish tested his skills again in the West Bengal State Under-13 Open, where he faced older, experienced players.
Although the event was challenging, it became a crucial step in his journey, with him meeting the requirement to face five rated players, ultimately earning him an initial FIDE rating of 1555, which was updated on Thursday.
This surpassed the previous record of Tejas Tiwari, who had become the youngest FIDE-rated player in five years, India's second general manager and his coach Dibyendu Barua said.
“He reminds me of Mitrabha Guha (who became General Manager at the age of 20). Anish certainly has potential, but he still has a long, long way to go,” Barua, the director of Dhanuka Dhunseri Dibyendu Barua Chess Academy, told IPS. , to PTI.
Anish's rise comes at a time when India is witnessing an exciting era in chess, with young talents like Erigaisi, R Praggnanandhaa and D Gukesh shining internationally.
These prodigies have broken records, inspired fans around the world, and recently India celebrated a historic double gold victory at the Chess Olympiad in both the open and women's categories.
Their success has not only put India on the global chess map but has also sparked a nationwide interest in nurturing young talents like Anish.
In most of Anish's videos during chess tournaments, he is seen sitting on a stack of chairs just to reach the chessboard, making it an endearing sight.
In one video, Anish plays against three GMs, including Barua and Surya Sekhar Ganguly, balancing on the chairs while his coach Barua playfully pinches his cheek.
“We have placed him in a special group where he trains for seven to eight hours,” Barua said.
“Sometimes he even comes to my house to play, and once he sits down at the board, he just doesn't want to get up. His focus is really amazing.” Born into a lower-middle-class family with parents who had “no knowledge of chess whatsoever,” Anish's journey began just a year ago, when he was still a toddler.
“We introduced him to various YouTube channels, including cartoons like Peppa Pig, but he gravitated towards chess videos,” says his mother.
“By January his interest had grown and he was watching those videos endlessly. I bought him a chess board and pieces because I thought it was safe for him to handle it even though I couldn't keep a close eye on him .
“Since he was already good with numbers and counting, chess quickly became his favorite. That's when we decided to put him under the guidance of Dibyendu Sir,” she recalls.
However, his mother prefers to remain anonymous for the time being.
“We come from a lower-middle-class family and prefer to avoid the limelight at this stage,” she said.
“This is his moment, and he deserves to take center stage. We will be happy to share our names if he becomes GM!” “So far I don't know a single chess move,” his mother admits, laughing.
“Maybe his father knows a little more, but he hasn't managed to beat him once.” She continues: “We like to quietly support him from behind and let him make his mark wherever his interests take him. There is no pressure on him; we just want him to have fun. My time is completely devoted to him, she adds.
Although she has a master's degree, she chose to become a housewife to support her son.
So who is his idol? “He absolutely loves watching GothamChess on YouTube, but his real hero is none other than Magnus Carlsen,” his mother concludes with a smile.
Barua, meanwhile, said they are trying to field him in the upcoming Tata Steel Kolkata Chess, where Carlsen has confirmed his participation.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by DailyExpertNews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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