Eight-year-old chess player sets a new world record (4 photos)

A prodigy from Singapore became the youngest player to defeat a grandmaster. Ashwath Kaushik beat 37-year-old Pole Jacek Stopa at the Burgdorfer Stadthaus Open in Switzerland.





At the age of 8 years, 6 months and 11 days, Ashwath became the youngest chess player to beat a grandmaster in a classical tournament game.

“I’m excited and surprised, I’m also proud of my game because at some point I started to lose, but then I managed to pull myself together,” the boy said in an interview with Chess.com.



Kaushik has been playing chess since he was 4 years old.

"He got carried away playing with his grandparents," said his father Sriram, adding that neither he nor his wife play.





In 2022, he became the world rapid champion among children under 8 years old.

“This is simply incredible, because our family is far from sports traditions,” admits the father.

A boy of Indian origin plays chess seven hours a day and follows the old chess program. He has a phenomenal photographic memory.



Grandmaster Kevin Guo praised his student for his "outstanding tactical skills."

"The family supports Ashwath and does not put pressure on him, allowing him to achieve his own goals," Goh said.

"We are proud of Ashwath, but we don't set any goals for him and let him develop at his own pace. And the world record is just a bonus."