GM Mir Sultan Khan: The Remarkable Rise of a Chess Legend
Chess has been a game of strategy and skill for centuries, and throughout its history, many players have left their mark on the game. One such player was Mir Sultan Khan a name that might not be familiar to many people outside the world of chess, but he is a legendary figure in the game, known for his exceptional talent and accomplishments.
Early Life and Introduction to Chess:
Mir Sultan Khan (1903-25 April 1966) was born in the small village of Mitha Tiwana, Punjab, India. Sultan Khan's introduction to chess was rather unusual. He learned chess from his father at the age of nine by the time he was 21 he was considered the strongest player in Punjab. In 1926, he was working as a servant in the household of Major General Nawab Sir Umar Hayat Khan a famous Rajput soldier for the empire, and a wealthy landowner in Punjab. Sir Umar was a keen chess player and, was impressed by Sultan Khan's intelligence. Sultan Khan quickly showed a remarkable aptitude for chess, and his natural talent was soon noticed by others.
Rise to Prominence:
Sultan Khan traveled to London with Sir Umar, where he participated in a tournament and caught the attention of the chess world. He won the tournaments, defeating some of the best players in Europe, including the reigning British champion, Frederick Yates.
International Success:
Over the next several years, Sultan Khan continued to travel and compete in tournaments around the world. He faced some of the strongest players of his time, including world champions Alexander Alekhine and Jose Capablanca, and consistently performed well, winning many notable victories. He won British Championship three times in four tries (1929,1932,1933).
In 1950 when FIDE first introduced the titles of International Grandmaster(GM) and International Master(IM), Mir Sultan Khan had been retired from competitive chess for over 15 years. While FIDE did award titles to some long-retired players who had distinguished careers earlier in their lives, such as Akiba Rubinstein and Carlos Torre, they did not award any title to Sultan Khan. This may have been due to the fact that Sultan Khan had retired before the title of Grandmaster was created, or because he had not played competitively for a significant period of time.
In recognition of his contributions to the game, the World Chess Federation (FIDE) has named Sultan Khan as one of the "immortals" of chess.
Retirement and Legacy:
Sultan Khan retired from chess in the early 1940s and returned to his hometown in Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan....... where he lived the rest of his life in relative obscurity.
Sultan Khan passed away in 1966 at the age of 63 it is said that he died of Tuberculosis (TB) in Sargodha............
May he rest in eternal peace and may his memory continue to inspire future generations of chess players and enthusiasts. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and all those whose lives he touched with his passion for the game. He will be deeply missed.
Be sure to read a book name SULTAN KHAN: The Indian Servant Who became Chess Champion of The British Empire...... written by Daniel King.
Thanks for reading! : )
Updates: Honorary Grandmaster Title Posthumously Awarded To Sultan Khan - https://www.chess.com/news/view/honorary-grandmaster-title-posthumously-awarded-to-sultan-khan
