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Indian Chess Prodigy Apaar Saxena Becomes International Master in 5 Weeks

Fourteen-year-old Indian chess prodigy Apaar Saxena has earned the International Master title after a remarkable five-week surge across Europe. He achieved all three required norms with dominant 7/9 performances in Bosnia, Spain, and Serbia. His rating rose rapidly from 2185 to 2362, placing him among India's most exciting young talents. His achievement was supported by his school, family, and prior coaching from Jayaram Ramana.

Key Points: Indian Prodigy Apaar Saxena Earns IM Title in 5 Weeks

  • 14-year-old Apaar Saxena from Bengaluru earns IM title
  • Achieved all three norms in just five weeks across Europe
  • Scored 7/9 in multiple tournaments
  • Rose from rating 2185 to 2362
  • Supported by family and school without personal coach
2 min read

Indian chess prodigy Apaar Saxena becomes International Master after remarkable five-week surge

14-year-old Indian chess prodigy Apaar Saxena earns International Master title after a stunning five-week surge across Europe, securing all three norms.

"His development has been strongly supported by his school... - Prashant Saxena (father)"

New Delhi, May 4

Fourteen-year-old Indian prodigy Apaar Saxena has earned the prestigious International Master title after a remarkable run of performances across Europe, achieving all three required norms in just five weeks.

Born in 2012, the young talent from Bengaluru made his mark on the international circuit with a dominant showing at the IM Renome 2 tournament in Bosnia on March 30, where he scored 7/9 to clinch the title and secure his maiden IM norm. He quickly followed it up with another impressive outing at the San Vicente Open in Spain on April 6, once again scoring 7/9 in a highly competitive field featuring over 500 players from 54 countries. Saxena sealed his second norm with two rounds to spare, underlining his consistency and composure.

His strong run continued at the Menorca Open later in April, where he posted a performance rating of 2404 and earned significant rating points, narrowly missing a third consecutive norm despite remaining in contention.

The decisive breakthrough came at the IM Putnik 114 tournament in Serbia on May 3, where Saxena delivered yet another 7/9 performance, securing his final norm and officially attaining the IM title. During the event, he also surpassed a live rating of 2450, marking a rapid rise from his previous rating of 2185 to an official rating of 2362 as of May 1.

Achieving all norms and rating requirements within such a short timeframe highlights an extraordinary surge in form and places Saxena among the most exciting young talents in Indian chess.

"His development has been strongly supported by his school Silicon City Academy of Secondary Education, Bangalore, with encouragement from Principal Sumalini Mam and School Coordinator Shenoy Mam. Apaar did not have any personal coach in the last two years. Prior to that, his coach was Jayaram Ramana. He was taking some courses assistance from different academies like Killer Chess Training and Yuri Vovk courses," Apaar's father, Prashant, told ChessBase India.

Saxena's father has played a key role in overseeing his training, preparation and tournament planning, while his mother, Ruchi Saxena, has been a constant source of support throughout his journey.

With this achievement, Saxena adds another milestone to India's growing reputation as a powerhouse in world chess, and his rapid progress suggests even bigger accomplishments may lie ahead

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Incredible performance in Europe! But I hope his family also prioritizes his education and mental well-being. So many prodigies burn out early. Let's celebrate this without overburdening the kid.
J
James A
Impressive consistency - three IM norms in five weeks across different European countries. The future of Indian chess looks really bright.
V
Vikram M
The credit goes to his parents - especially his father managing training and tournaments without a personal coach. Apne bachchon ke sapne poore karne ke liye parents kitna kuch karte hain. Salute to them! 🙏
S
Sarah B
His rating surge from 2185 to 2362 in just weeks is remarkable. This boy is on track for Grandmaster title soon. India's chess ecosystem is really flourishing.
N
Neha E
What a story! But I'm concerned about the lack of a personal coach. His talent is undeniable, but structured training with top coaches is crucial at this level. Hope his family considers getting him professional guidance soon.
R
Raghav A
Another gem from Bengaluru! Our IT hub is also becoming a chess powerhouse. Visit Bengaluru once, you'll see kids playing chess in every park and chess academy. The culture is incredible.

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