8-Year-Old Beats Chess Grandmaster
At the age of eight years, six months, and 11 days, Ashwath Kaushik from Singapore made history by becoming the youngest player ever to defeat a grandmaster in classical tournament chess. This remarkable feat was achieved when he triumphed over Poland’s Jacek Stopa, 37, during round four of the Burgdorfer Stadthaus Open in Switzerland, breaking the previous record by four months.
Ashwath’s journey into chess began with his parents recognizing the increasing screen time in his life and introducing him to the ancient board game through ChessKid.com. As the pandemic hit and Singapore enforced strict lockdowns, Ashwath found himself with ample time to dedicate to practice.
Despite his young age, he displayed a mature understanding of the game and his aspirations, aiming for a 2,000 rating and eventually the title of world champion.
Ashwath’s journey in chess has been fully supported by his family, who provide him with the necessary time and space to pursue his passion.
Under the guidance of experienced coaches like Chess GM Kevin Goh Wei Ming has had other notable achievements such as completing GM Jacob Aagaard’s entire Grandmaster series. While he excels in tactical maneuvers, his coaches wish to further develop his strategic thinking as he continues to learn.