An eight-year-old chess prodigy from Singapore has broken the record for the youngest chess player to beat a grandmaster in a classical chess game. Ashwath Kaushik, who is of Indian origin, defeated Polish grandmaster Jacek Stopa in a three-hour game at the Burgdorfer Stadthaus Open in Switzerland on Sunday.
Ashwath Kaushik: A Rising Star in the Chess World
Ashwath Kaushik, who is eight years and six months old, has been playing chess since he was four. He learned the game from his grandparents and soon surpassed his parents and other relatives. He has been competing in tournaments since he was six and has won several titles and awards.
Ashwath Kaushik is currently ranked as the world’s second-best player in his age group, according to the World Chess Federation. He is also the youngest player to achieve a FIDE rating of over 2000, which is considered a milestone for chess players. He has a rating of 2039, which is higher than some grandmasters.
Ashwath Kaushik said that he loves chess because it challenges his mind and helps him improve his skills. He said that he practices chess for two hours on weekdays and six to seven hours on weekends. He also studies chess books and videos and plays online with other players.
Ashwath Kaushik Beats Grandmaster Jacek Stopa in a Historic Game
Ashwath Kaushik made history on Sunday when he beat grandmaster Jacek Stopa, who is 37 years old and has a rating of 2501, in the fifth round of the Burgdorfer Stadthaus Open. Ashwath Kaushik played with the black pieces and used the Sicilian Defense, a popular opening among chess players.
The game lasted for 64 moves and ended with Ashwath Kaushik checkmating his opponent. Ashwath Kaushik said that he was very happy and proud of his achievement and that he played well throughout the game. He said that he was confident of his position and that he did not make any major mistakes.
Ashwath Kaushik broke the record for the youngest player to beat a grandmaster in a classical chess game, which was set just a month ago by Leonid Ivanovic from Serbia, who was eight years and 11 months old when he beat grandmaster Milko Popchev from Bulgaria.
Ashwath Kaushik Receives Praise and Support from His Family and the Chess Community
Ashwath Kaushik’s victory was celebrated by his family and the chess community, who praised him for his talent and dedication. His parents, Kaushik Sriram and Rohini Ramachandran, who are both software engineers, said that they were very proud of their son and that they supported his passion for chess.
They said that they moved to Singapore from India seven years ago and that they enrolled Ashwath Kaushik in a chess academy when they noticed his interest and potential. They said that they also hired a coach for him and that they traveled with him to various tournaments around the world.
They said that they faced some challenges in balancing Ashwath Kaushik’s chess and academic activities, but that they tried to provide him with a holistic education. They said that they also encouraged him to pursue other hobbies, such as playing the piano and reading books.
Ashwath Kaushik also received congratulations and admiration from other chess players and fans, who hailed him as a prodigy and a future champion. Some of them compared him to the legendary chess players, such as Magnus Carlsen, Garry Kasparov, and Viswanathan Anand.
Ashwath Kaushik said that he was inspired by these chess masters and that he hoped to become a grandmaster and a world champion someday. He said that he also wanted to promote chess among other children and to make his country proud.
