Ashwath Kaushik has just become the youngest player to defeat a GM in a FIDE-rated classical chess game, with a discovered check. But his success isn’t just about one tactic.
At the age of eight years, six months, and 11 days, Ashwath achieved the feat of becoming the youngest chess player to defeat a grandmaster in a classical game. This historic victory occurred during a match against the 37-year-old Polish Jacek Stopa at Hotel Stadthaus in Burgdorf, Switzerland.
This achievement surpassed the previous record set by Leonid Ivanovic, who was eight years, 11 months, and seven days old when he defeated Bulgarian Milko Popchev, 59, just a few days before Ashwath’s milestone.
Following Ashwath’s victory, we reached out to GM Kevin Goh, CEO of the Singapore Chess Federation, and Mr. Kaushik, Ashwath’s father, to delve deeper into his journey in chess. Ashwath emerges as a prodigy, with a passion for solving puzzles, an aggressive playing style, and even the need for a booster cushion during over-the-board games. In the interview below, conducted with Ashwath’s father, we will discover how he balances school and chess, the countries he’s competed in, or the financial commitments involved.
The conversation with Ashwath Kaushik’s father
- When did Ashwath start playing chess?
He started playing chess at the age of 4 years and 3 months.
- Where did he enthusiasm for chess come from?
He initially picked it up from Chesskids app, and then developed an interest for puzzles (mate in 1, mate in 2 etc.) and by playing with his grandparents.
- Is he a prodigy? Like, has he been able to read and write before 5 years old?
Yes, he could read and write before 5, and has 98%ile+ on working and visual memory. He has a near photographic memory for chess positions/but also other things (all flags of the world e.g.). He solves 1000+ piece lego model sets meant for adults (and has been doing that since 5y of age).
- Is he good at math and other scientific subjects?
Yes, he is 2-3 years ahead of his peers in Maths, and is also in accelerated track in Reading, and other subjects.
- Did he join a chess club or just have private tutors so far?
Private tutors for a long time, and then the Singapore Chess Federation National Training Program group for the last 1-1.5 years
- When did he start playing tournaments?
He’s played online tournaments (e.g. Nationals, Asian Youth) since he was 5 years old onwards, but first official board tournament was in Singapore in Dec 2021 (after COVID restrictions were reduced). First big global event was World Rapid Cadets U08 in Greece (Apr-2022) [where he won at 6 years old].
- Which countries has he visited to play tournaments?
Serbia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, China, Australia, UK, Italy, Spain, Germany, India, Greece, Switzerland.
- Has he ever cried after losing a game, or a tournament?
He does get sad after tough losses, but generally doesn’t cry. Online games – he gets more upset especially if he loses on time 🙂
- Which coach has the biggest influence on his chess career so far?
He has had multiple coaches for a long time for different areas – all of them have influenced him a lot and have helped in specific areas.
- What are the pros and cons of being a chess player born and raised in Singapore? Has he (and other young Singaporean players) received any financial support from the local/state government when playing in the official tournaments?
Pros: Strong chess culture in Singapore with a very supportive federation (under GM Kevin Goh)
Structured national development program across age groups and levels, with famous GM trainers (highly subsidized financially)
Marquee event in SG Chess Classic during the year; lots of rapid events every week – easy to travel and participate
Cons: Smaller pool (given population) of players (and hence sometimes limited sparring partners)For regular classic events, expensive travel to international tournaments (usually in Europe)
Financial support: highly subsidized world-class GM training (National Training Program), official players get funding for age group key regional/global events + bilateral events.
- How often does he study chess and how does he balance it with your other commitments?
Weekdays 2 hrs a day every day, and weekends 6-7 hrs; long school holidays – 8-9 hrs each day on chess. He goes to school regularly and is in accelerated tracks in all subjects – so it is a constant struggle to balance chess and academics. School is supportive on leaves during the academic year to travel for tournaments. Most other extra curricular activities have been cut down to create time for chess.
- Is he homeschooling?
We don’t believe in homeschooling, to deny him a normal childhood 🙂 though a lot of folks keep asking us to consider it to devote more time to chess!
- Supporting a young chess player must be very hard, financially wise. The expense could totally excess $50k per year, for like numerous years. Would that be a problem for you? And Does he currently benefit from any financial sponsorship? Do you have concerns regarding financial considerations when him participating in international tournaments?
Yes it is very expensive especially without corporate funding. Unfortunately for Asians, there is still a lack of suitable tournaments locally and regionally, and coaching costs are very expensive and often on VC and not in person.
I think your cost estimate is right – I would say for very active players considering 5 hrs of GM training per week, and 5-6 Europe trips, easily upward of US60,000 (travel, stay etc.). For young kids, one of the parents has to travel along as well.
With the level of preparation needed, and online resources being used these days, this is a big barrier for a lot of kids. At some stage, we will aim for corporate sponsorship. Hopefully with FIDEs new rating upgrades, and increasing tournaments in Vietnam and India, there will be opportunities to play and develop locally in future.
- I read an article where it said he had to use a booster cushion for OTB games. I wonder if thatt’s still the case now?
Yes, still the case, he plays in Open tournaments and older age groups – the booster seat helps him see the board better (at a higher angle).
- What’s his favorite game he’s played until now?
Win with black vs. WGM Gong – one of Singapore’s top players. [You should check out the game. It’s a fun tactical battle.]
- What’s your plan and ambition for him in 2024?
Become a CM by crossing 2000 (he has a provisional CM norm from winning Eastern Asian u08 and U12 3rd place), and then continue his long term development by consistently beating titled players, besides also one of the World Cadets/Schools top 3 finish.
- You know Abhimanyu Mishra holds the world record for the youngest International Master, at the age of 10 years, 9 months, and 20 days. Do you think he can beat that record?
No, we don’t think it’s a realistic target to chase such timing records, as it’s not possible living in SEA and without completely giving up school. There aren’t enough tournaments locally/regionally, or time relative to others in Russia/India who are only doing chess 8 hrs a day! We would like him to go at his own pace, while he himself has ambitious goals.
More importantly, I feel the pace of getting to GM will drop in future as online resources + preparation brings down the level difference between higher and lower rated players – it’s not easy to make progress consistently, especially in Open events. Ashwath already faces extremely well prepared opponents every game playing offbeat/sidelines.
The game which Ashwath beat GM Jacek Stopa
At the moment, Ashwath is one of the top 10 players born from 2015 (U8) onwards. There are already some big talents in this age category, like English WCM Bodhana Sivanandan, who scored 8.5/13 in the European Blitz chess championship in December 2023, or Roman Shogdzhiev, who beat GM Jakhongir Vakhidov and GM Johan-Sebastian Christiansen in 2023 World Rapid Chess Championship, or Ivanovic mentioned earlier. It’s interesting to see which one of these talents will become an IM first.
*Top image: Ashwath Kaushik at 2023 Sunway Chess. Photo by David Llada.
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