Nihal Sarin Biography 
Nihal Sarin is a young Indian Chess Grandmaster from Thrissur, Kerala. He is the twelfth youngest grandmaster in chess history reaching this feat at the age of 14, and he won Grandmaster title most recently in 2018. He was born in 2004. Nihal was the 2014 World Under-10 Champion, and runner-up at Under-12 championship in Porto Carras, Greece in 2015. World's second-youngest grandmaster, Parimarjan Negi referred him to as 'mature beyond his years'. Similarly he has received positive comments from many grandmasters across the world. As of August 2018 FIDE rating he stands at 2556th rank in world Chess ranking.
Nihal Sarin was born in Thrissur, Kerala on 13 July 2004. His early childhood was spent in Kottayam before he shifted to his hometown. A child prodigy, by the age of three he could identify the capitals and the flags of all the 190 odd countries, and also spoke fluently in English. At the age of 6, he could deliver the multiplication tables till sixteen. He was initiated to the world of chess at the age of 5, to get over the boredom of school vacation. He was at Kottayam then, and grandfather taught him the rules.
Nihal was formally taught chess by school chess coach Mathew P. Joseph Pottoore. Started with small training during initial days, he later became the most influential person who promoted the talent of young Nihal. In 2011 his family shifted to Thrissur and he schooled at Devamatha CMI Public School. But he continued with his chess practice and won the Kerala state championship in Under-07 category in 2011, his first major win, and he won the same title once again.
Published: August 24, 2018
Updated: August 24, 2018
