Anish Sarkar - youngest chess player
Anish Sarkar is a remarkable young chess prodigy from Kolkata, India, who became the world's youngest FIDE-rated player at just 3 years and 10 months old. Born on January 26, 2021, Anish's chess journey started in early 2024, and within months he was already competing in rapid and classical tournaments against much older children. He earned his first FIDE rating of 1556 in November 2024, breaking the previous record for the youngest rated player. Guided by India's second-ever grandmaster Dibyendu Barua, Anish demonstrates extraordinary focus and a passion for the game, training up to 7-8 hours a day. His success has made waves in the chess world, showcasing the incredible talent and dedication possible at such a young age.
***
### Early Interest and Training
Anish's interest in chess began in 2024 when he was drawn to chess videos on YouTube rather than typical toddler content. His family encouraged him with a chess board and pieces, and he soon became engrossed in learning and playing the game. Recognizing his talent, he was inducted into a special training program led by Grandmaster Dibyendu Barua, where he trains intensively, sometimes for hours at a stretch, demonstrating remarkable concentration for his age [1][2][3].
### Record-Breaking FIDE Rating
In September 2024, Anish played in a rapid rating event and even participated in a simul against India's top player, GM Arjun Erigaisi. His classical debut came shortly after at the West Bengal Under-9 Championship, where he competed against children up to six years older, scoring 5.5/8 and defeating two FIDE-rated players in the final rounds. A week later, he played in the Under-13 Championship, meeting the requirements to earn his initial FIDE classical rating of 1556, officially recorded in November 2024. This achievement made him the youngest player ever to receive a FIDE rating, surpassing the previous record set by Tejas Tiwari at age five [1][2][3][4].
### Recognition and Future Potential
Anish's extraordinary accomplishments have earned him national recognition, including the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar award in 2024. His coach and others in the chess community see great potential in his dedication and focus, though they emphasize that his journey is just beginning. Despite his young age and humble background, Anish's story inspires many as an example of how early support and structured training can nurture exceptional talent in chess [2][3][4][5].
***
This compelling story of Anish Sarkar's rise in the chess world highlights both his prodigious talent and the power of early encouragement in shaping a future chess champion.
Citations:
[1] Anish Sarkar https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anish_Sarkar
[2] 3-Year-Old Anish Sarkar Earns 1555 FIDE Chess Rating https://www.chess.com/news/view/anish-sarkar-age-3-earns-fide-rating
[3] Anish Sarkar becomes the youngest rated player at the age ... https://www.chessbase.in/news/Anish-Sarkar-becomes-the-youngest-rated-player
[4] Anish Sarkar https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anish_Sarkar
[5] It's upto Anish whether or not he wants to pursue chess in ... https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bengali/movies/news/its-upto-anish-whether-or-not-he-wants-to-pursue-chess-in-the-future-says-his-mother/articleshow/115285710.cms
[6] Anish Sarkar, 3-year old, Youngest ever FIDE RATED ... https://www.instagram.com/reel/DEEJjy1ofrq/?hl=en
[7] How strong is 3-year-old Anish Sarkar | Talent Test https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqxFIu5zCb4
[8] Anish Sarkar, at just 3 years old, has made history by ... https://www.reddit.com/r/chessindia/comments/1icshls/anish_sarkar_at_just_3_years_old_has_made_history/
[9] Young Minds: Nurturing Genius in Chess https://summitschoolofchess.com/inspiring-young-minds-the-remarkable-journey-of-3-year-old-chess-prodigy-anish-sarkar/
[10] Anish Sarkar https://www.chess.com/players/anish-sarkar
[11] Meet Anish Sarkar , A chess prodigy at 3 years https://gosharpener.com/blogs/615741/Meet-Anish-Sarkar-A-chess-prodigy-at-3-years?lang=ru_ru
[12] At just three years, eight months, and 19 days old, Anish ... https://www.instagram.com/p/DCB1QRuv_dh/?hl=en
[13] Anish Sarkar, 3-yr-old FIDE rated Chess player, gets ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBSD9NDDmQ8
[14] girl tried to trick 3 year old anish sarkar, the youngest fide ... https://www.reddit.com/r/chessindia/comments/1l2xjr9/girl_tried_to_trick_3_year_old_anish_sarkar_the/
[15] 4-year-old Anish Sarkar can barely reach the board https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XY-rRNsjip8
[16] r/chess - 3 year old Anish Sarkar achieving classical rating ... https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/comments/1gpoyap/3_year_old_anish_sarkar_achieving_classical/
[17] Anish Sarkar FIDE Profile https:
