Plans of Anish in the Tata Steel Kolkata Chess tournament, where he may meet his hero, Carlsen, for the first time are underway. Anish Sarkar who is from Kaikhali in north Kolkata has made historical event as the youngest-rated chess player ever in just three years, eight months, and 19 days old. In the world of chess Anish found his passion, A year ago Anish’s journey just begin. Anish Sarkar born on 26th January 2021, his rise in the chess circuit is as sudden as it is magnificent.
Anish’s aggressive debut came in October 2024 at the West Bengal state under-9 open, where he scored 5.5 points from eight rounds, defeating two valued players and placing 24th overall. His trip didn’t stop there. He soon completed in the state Under-13 Open, challenging older and more experienced opposers. This match encountered the FIDE requirement of playing five rated player, fixing him an initial FIDE rating of 1555.
His reach have already earned him comparisons to India’s second Grandmaster(GM), Dibyendu Barua, who work for as his coach. Dibyendu Barua told ” Anish definitely has potential, but he has a long way to go,” and who watches echoes of former chess prodigies in the young player’s determination and focus.
Despite coming from a lower-middle-class background and parents who had no earlier knowledge of chess, Anish Sarkar’s period of traveling started early. His mother described that he showed interest in chess videos on YouTube, prompting them to get him a board. Guided by Barua at the Dhanuka Dhunseri Dibyendu Barua chess Academy, Anish now trains up to eight hours a day.
Anish’s focus is extraordinary. often seen sitting atop a stack of chairs to reach the board, he has even faced seasoned players like India’s top-ranked GM Arjun Erigaisi in simultaneous exhibition matches. He is motivated by world champion Magnus Carlsen who is his idol, and watches GothamChess on YouTube for additional insights.
As India’s chess strength continues to get larger with prodigies like D Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa, Anish emergence adds to the country’s hopeful future in the sport. Plan of actions are underway for him to compete in the Tata Steel Kolkata chess tournament, where he may meet his hero, Carlsen, for the first time.