3-Year-Old Anish Prefers GothamChess To Peppa Pig, Earns 1555 FIDE Rating

Forget Peppa Pig and Baby Shark. Three-year-old Anish Sarkar has different idols: chess stars IM Levy Rozman and GM Magnus Carlsen. The prodigy has become the world's youngest-rated player by earning his first FIDE rating, which is 1555. 

At an age when most toddlers turn to nursery rhymes and Lego, this young boy from Kolkata, India, is already playing in tournaments, solving chess puzzles, and watching chess videos on YouTube.

The story of the pint-sized chess prodigy, born after the pandemic began in January 2021, has gone viral thanks to ChessBase India which documented his extraordinary journey. In a recent story, they published several videos of Anish demonstrating advanced concepts such as the smothered mate and the classic double-rook sacrifice checkmate.

The young prodigy took his first steps into tournament play by scoring an impressive 5/11 in a rapid event. At the same event, he also got a special chance to face India's current number-one, GM Arjun Erigaisi, in a 15-board simul.

Anish eventually made his classical debut at the West Bengal U9 Championship last month where he faced opponents up to six years older than him. Despite the age gap, he scored a stunning 5.5/8 and finished 24th among 140 players in the field. Two of his wins came against rated players.

He played in another tournament for children under 13 years old a week later and fulfilled the minimum score required for obtaining a FIDE rating. The rating became official on November 1.

The International Chess Federation (FIDE) confirmed that Anish is currently the world's youngest-rated player, but it's still unclear whether he is the youngest ever to achieve an official rating.

Speaking to Times of India, his mother said Anish's chess journey started almost a year ago, before his third birthday. "We introduced him to different YouTube channels, including cartoons like Peppa Pig, but he was drawn to chess videos." 

We introduced him to different YouTube channels, including cartoons like Peppa Pig, but he was drawn to chess videos.
—Mother of Anish Sarkar

"By January, his interest had grown, and he would watch those videos endlessly. I bought him a chessboard and pieces, thinking it was safe for him to handle even if I couldn't supervise him closely," she told the newspaper, adding that he was good with numbers and had learned to count.

The toddler has now been put in a special group led by India's second-ever GM Dibyendu Barua.

"We've put him in a special group where he trains for seven to eight hours. Sometimes, he even comes to my home to play, and once he sits down at the board, he doesn't get up. His focus is truly astounding," said Barua.

His parents emphasized that they put no pressure on their son but just want to support his passion. "There is no pressure on him. We just want him to enjoy himself. Our time is devoted to him," his mother said.

Asked about who his heroes are, she said: "He absolutely loves watching GothamChess on YouTube, but his real hero is none other than Magnus Carlsen."

He absolutely loves watching GothamChess on YouTube, but his real hero is none other than Magnus Carlsen.
—Mother of Anish Sarkar

The story comes when India eagerly awaits GM Gukesh Dommaraju's world championship match in Singapore against the reigning champion, GM Ding Liren.

Leading up to the event in Singapore, India will see some of their top players compete in the Chennai Grand Masters this week before Tata Steel Chess India begins in Anish's home city of Kolkata. Let's see if he gets to meet his hero.

How old were you when you learned how to play chess?