Chess prodigy Nivaan feted by Union Minister Gadkari

Upcoming chess prodigy Nivaan Khandhadia was felicitated by the Union minister Nitin Gadkari, at a function in Pune recently. The young chess player recently created history of sorts by becoming the youngest rated chess player in India.

Vivaan with an outstanding rating of 1137 ELO points, is currently world ranked no.10, according to the May 2018 FIDE rating list released by the World Chess Federation.

The Pune lad had participated in the recently concluded World School Chess Championship held in Albania and was the youngest candidate in the Indian contingent. He, however, did not finish with a high as he scored four points from nine rounds in the Under-7 category, but he is determined to win the title next season.

A senior KG student of the Vibgyor High School in Magarpatta, Pune, Nivaan’s introduction to the sport came when he was just four-and-half years old by his father Rathin. Having quickly picked up the moves and learnt the various strategies. He train under watchful eyes of coach Vishwanath Sandilya at the South Mumbai chess Academy (SMCA), Pune and spends quite a lot of time in front of the 64 squares board during practices.