India’s 3-Year-Old Sarwagya Singh Kushwaha Becomes Youngest FIDE-Rated Chess Player in History
Key Highlights
- Madhya Pradesh’s Sarwagya Singh Kushwaha becomes the youngest chess player in history to earn an official FIDE rating.
- The three-year-old breaks the previous record set by Kolkata prodigy Anish Sarkar last year.
- Kushwaha achieved the milestone by defeating multiple internationally rated players in tournaments across India.
India has added another extraordinary chapter to its chess story. Sarwagya Singh Kushwaha, a student at a nursery school in Sagar district, Madhya Pradesh, has become the youngest player in chess history to earn an official international rating from the FIDE World Chess Federation. The record-setting achievement was confirmed after the latest list of rated players went live this week.
3-Year-Old Kushwaha Becomes Youngest Player Ever to Earn FIDE Rating
At just three years, seven months, and 20 days, Sarwagya eclipsed the record held by Kolkata’s Anish Sarkar, who set the previous benchmark in November 2023 at the age of three years, eight months, and 19 days.
A New Prodigy Emerges
Reports from Indian news outlets, including ETV Bharat, highlighted the family’s excitement as the milestone became public. Sarwagya’s father, Siddharth Singh, described the moment as “a matter of great pride and honour,” adding that the family hopes the young talent “becomes a grandmaster” one day.
What makes the accomplishment remarkable is the speed at which Sarwagya has adapted to competitive chess. Despite being enrolled in nursery school and far younger than most rated players globally, he has already secured an official rapid rating of 1,572, placing him well above many older beginners and even some intermediate-level juniors.
How FIDE Ratings Are Earned
Earning a FIDE rating is not an automatic outcome for child players. The global body requires every newcomer to secure at least one win against a rated international opponent. A challenge even for older children entering the competitive arena.
Sarwagya surpassed that requirement with ease. According to media reports, the three-year-old defeated three internationally rated players in tournaments held across Madhya Pradesh and other parts of India. These victories gave him the rating points needed to debut on the FIDE list, officially making him the youngest rated player in world history.
The achievement indicates that the rapid expansion of chess culture has occurred in India. With growing parental interest, structured academies, and increased media visibility, the country has produced a wave of prodigies over the past decade.
