Pune: The number of young talents in Maharashtran chess seems to keep growing with each passing day. Names like Kush Bhagat and Suhaani Lohia have already shown that success can be achieved at a very young age. Now, add young Nivaan Khandadia to that list.
A senior KG student from the Vibgyor Magarpatta School in Pune, six-year-old Nivaan has already fulfilled his rating norms in the recently concluded Udaipur International Open Rating Chess Tournament. The wonderkid is all set to make an entry into an elite list of the world’s youngest rated chess players with the release of his international ratings next month.
A trainee at the South Mumbai Chess Academy in Koregaon Park, Nivaan plays under the watchful eyes of coach Vishwanath Sandilya. The latter, impressed by his ward’s performances has professed that the child would rewrite all major records and would end up as a big name in the sport.
Well, Sandilya has reasons to be proud of his student. Nivaan, who idolises Norgwegian Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen has already pocketed 17 trophies and nine medals at the district and state level so far. He also has finished third at the district level, seventh at the state school level and 13th at the national school level in the U-7 age category competitions.
He has a couple of feathers to his illustrious cap, having a gold medal to his name in running and winning a first prize in story-telling. He also loves to swim.
Nivaan’s introduction to the sport came from his father Rathin, when he was just four-and-half. He showed glimpses of excellence at that age itself when he learnt the sport in just two days and astonishingly outplayed his father on the third.
Not only this, but the kid can name all the world champions in correct sequence. Unsurprisingly, he desires to be a Grandmaster one day and his passion for the sport might make him go the distance someday.