The chess prodigy has won five national and international tournaments this year including the prestigious World Chess Championships.
Charvi Anilkumar with the trophy of the 2022 Commonwealth Youth Chess Championships held in Sri Lanka.
This eight-year-old girl is different from her peers. Meet, Charvi Anilkumar from Bengaluru, whose moves have brought India at least three major international chess titles.
The latest trophy in her kitty is the Commonwealth Youth Chess Championship held in Waskaduwa, Sri Lanka.
A month earlier, Charvi had secured six medals, including five golds at the Asian Youth Chess Championships in Bali, Indonesia.
The championship, which started in 1950, is a gathering of chess players from Commonwealth nations.
“As soon as she wins, she wants to eat out. Her favourites are grilled chicken and ice cream. She is also a big fan of mythological serials, “Charvi’s father Anil Kumar told South First.
Charvi Anilkumar with the trophy and medal of the 2022 Commonwealth Youth Chess Championships held in Sri Lanka. (Supplied)
Charvi has been competing in a relatively easier field than the Asian and World Championships and started as a favourite.
Of the 17 player-lineup, 11 were from Sri Lanka, two from South Africa, and one each from India and Maldives.
Riding an unbeaten streak, the eight-year-old girl comfortably won eight out of nine matches.
The only time Charvi did not win was in round six, in which she had to settle for a draw against Sethumsa RB Hasadi of Sri Lanka.
“I spoke to her after she won and she was happy. But soon she started watching Mahabharata stories. Her favourite character is Karna,” Anilkumar said.
This year Charvi, a Class 3 student of the Capitol Public School at Hegde Nagar in Bengaluru, has won at least five national and international titles.
Charvi Anilkumar with the Asian Youth Chess Championship trophy. (Supplied)
It all started with an Under-9 National School Tournament in May at Bhubhaneshwar, where she finished fourth. She was the only girl among the 158 participants.
Next came the Under-10 National Championship in Jammu and Under-8 championship in Vijaywada. She registered wins at both places.
Charvi’s larger goal is to become a grandmaster. She idolises Judith Polgar, considered to be the strongest female player of all time and chess legend Viswanathan Anand.
Woman Grandmaster and Charvi’s coach Aarthie Ramaswamy told South First: “This year Charvi has been more confident and trying new things. She is also taking more risks, which sets her apart from other kids playing in her category.”
Charvi will next be seen in action in the 2023 Delhi International Open Grandmaster Chess tournament, scheduled from 17 to 24 January.
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