Nihal Sarin
An Indian grandmaster and former prodigy, Nihal Sarin was world under-10 champion in 2014, became a grandmaster in 2018, and passed 2600 at 14, then the third-youngest ever to do so.
He has been trained since 2020 at the WestBridge-Anand Chess Academy, as part of Viswanathan Anand’s programme, and reached a career-high 2723 in April 2026. That year he also won the rapid section of Tata Steel Chess India.
He is also a strong online player: he won Chess.com’s Bullet Chess Championship by beating Alireza Firouzja twice in the final, and reached the quarter-finals of the 2026 Esports World Cup.
Career highlights
- Won the 2026 Tata Steel India Rapid
- Chess.com Bullet Chess Champion, beating Alireza Firouzja in the final
- Esports World Cup quarter-finalist in 2026
- Online Olympiad gold with India in 2020
- Peak rating 2723 (April 2026)
Nihal Sarin in The Chess Herald
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FIDE profile · Wikipedia
Profile last reviewed September 29, 2026. Ratings update monthly from FIDE.