Sharvaanica A S, a 10-Year-Old Chess Prodigy from Tamil Nadu, is on A Queen’s Move

In the village of Marottichal in Kerala, a remarkable transformation unfolded over four decades ago. During the 70's and 80's, the village was plagued by alcoholism, gambling and fights until chess became their salvation. Around 90 percent of the villagers are now chess players, proving that the ancient game of strategy can heal communities and transform lives. This chess revolution in rural India mirrors a larger phenomenon sweeping the nation—the emergence of young Indian chess prodigies who are redefining global chess excellence.

From teenager Gukesh Dommaraju becoming the youngest-ever undisputed classical chess world champion to a quartet of star Indian players born between 2003 and 2006—GMs Gukesh D, Praggnanandhaa R, Arjun Erigaisi, and Nihal Sarin, the Indian chess spectrum has only grown bigger. But perhaps one of the most inspiring stories among India's chess scenario comes from an even younger talent – 10-year-old Sharvaanica from the small town of Udayarpalayam in Tamil Nadu's Ariyalur district. Her journey is a testament to firm determination amidst adversities. 

A Pandemic Discovery

Sharvaanica's chess story began during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. At just six years old, she was introduced to the game by her sister. "I really liked it when I played for the first time," she recalls with infectious enthusiasm during a conversation with Local Samosa. What started as a way to pass time during the pandemic quickly revealed itself as an extraordinary talent.

Like many families pursuing excellence in chess, Sharvaanica's journey came with enormous sacrifices. Her mother, a physics lecturer with an MSc degree, gave up her career to support her daughter's chess dreams. "She gave up everything for our improvement, even though we are not financially stable," explains Sharvaanica's sister, highlighting the dedication that often underlies sporting excellence in India.

The Long Road to Mastery

But finance was not the only issue this young girl faced. Residing in a small town, every coaching and tournament centres were extremely far from their house. They had to travel for about 300-350 kilometres to attend coaching sessions. "We need to travel a day before, and we need to get a room and stay, and we'll take coaching for nearly 2-3 days, and we will get back home," describes their routine.

Initially training locally, Sharvaanica now works with Grandmaster Shyamsundar M. at the Chess Thulir Academy in Chennai. The logistics alone would deter most families, but for Sharvaanica, it's simply part of the journey. "Sometimes I feel so tired and exhausted while travelling long distances, that there is no energy left in me for coaching," she admits, yet her determination never wavers.

Breaking Records with Perfect Precision

After sacrificing almost everything during her childhood—her playtime, childhood shenanigans and friendship—the young girl achieved some remarkable feats. Her breakthrough came at the Under-7 National Championship in Gujarat, where she achieved something unprecedented – a perfect score of 11 out of 11 games, setting a new national record. "I scored 11 out of 11 and that became a national record," she says. "Every state supporter lifted me on their shoulders and celebrated my victory. I felt like a champion,” adds the young champ with a big smile on her face. 

Her international debut was even more spectacular. At the Asian School Championships in Sri Lanka, she achieved a "golden hat-trick"—perfect scores in all three formats: Classical (9/9), Rapid (7/7), and Blitz (7/7). "In total, I scored 23 out of 23, and that is an Asian record," she states. This feat earned her the recognition of the "100 percent girl of Indian chess" by ChessBase India.

The victories continued flowing. "I won 5 gold medals and 1 silver medal in the Asian Youth, Dubai. And I got the Commonwealth in Malaysia. There are two categories, so in those two categories, I won 2 gold medals," Sharvaanica recounts. At the World Championships in Albania, her proudest moment came when "our Indian national anthem was played. I felt so happy and had goosebumps on me at that moment."

Youngest Among Giants

At just nine years old, Sharvaanica became the youngest Woman Candidate Master (WCM) in Asia with an ELO rating of 1915. She holds multiple records as the highest-rated Under-9 female player in Asia across all formats and ranks second globally. Most remarkably, she became the youngest female chess player in Indian history to cross 2000 ELO points – a milestone that previous Indian champions reached at 11 or 12 years of age. Currently, she has won 17 gold medals representing India and has her sights set on the ultimate prize. "I want to become the youngest female chess world champion, breaking China's Hou Yifan record, which she achieved at 14.

A Message of Hope

Sharvaanica's story resonates far beyond chess. Her message to young dreamers across India reflects the wisdom of someone who has overcome seemingly impossible odds: "No matter where you come from—your town, your family, your background, your status, doesn’t matter at all,” says a 10-year-old girl with sheer conviction in her eyes. As she prepares for the World Cup in Georgia, Sharvaanica represents more than just individual excellence. She embodies the spirit of new India, where talent from the smallest towns can compete on the world's biggest stages. "Chess is actually my life," she says simply, and in those words lies the passion that's driving India's chess revolution from village squares to world championships.