In a remarkable display of skill and talent, eight-year-old Ashwath Kaushik, hailing from Singapore and of Indian origin, made headlines by defeating Polish chess grandmaster Jacek Stopa at the Burgdorfer Stadthaus Open. With this extraordinary achievement, Kaushik cemented his status as the youngest player ever to conquer a grandmaster in the classical version of the game.
Surpassing the previous record set by Serbia’s Leonid Ivanovic, Kaushik’s victory at such a tender age has captivated the chess world. Despite his youth, Kaushik displayed exceptional strategic prowess and resilience, outmanoeuvring Stopa, who is nearly five times his age.
Reflecting on his historic win, Kaushik expressed, “I felt proud of my game and how I played, especially since I was worse at one point but managed to come back from that.” Currently ranked world No. 37,338 by FIDE, Kaushik’s meteoric rise in the chess world is poised to continue, with an anticipated surge in his rating points following his latest triumph.
Born in Bharat and residing in Singapore for the past six years, Kaushik’s precocious talent was first recognised when he clinched triple gold in the Under-8 category of the Eastern Asian Youth Championship at the age of six. Subsequently, he further distinguished himself by becoming the World Under-8 Rapid Champion, demonstrating his exceptional aptitude for the game.
Kaushik’s dedication to chess is evident in his rigorous training regimen, spending up to seven hours a day honing his skills and solving intricate puzzles. His remarkable memory and strategic acumen have been instrumental in his success, as attested by his father Kaushik Sriram, who marvels at his son’s ability to solve complex puzzles visually.
About Kaushik’s remarkable achievement, Singapore Chess Federation CEO and Grandmaster Kevin Goh praised, “Dad is super supportive, boy is dedicated, school allows flexibility and of course he has natural talent… Remains to be seen how far he can go as interests can change as the boy gets older. Still, we are hopeful.”
