Guwahati, February 4: Assam’s 11-year-old chess talent Viraj Sarawgi has registered a major leap in his international standing after gaining 290 FIDE Elo rating points during two consecutive FIDE-rated tournaments held in Italy and Germany between January 23 and February 2.
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| Assam’s 11-Year-Old Chess Player Viraj Sarawgi |
Viraj delivered impressive performances against international opponents across both events, showcasing steady progress and growing confidence on the global chess circuit. A Class VI student of Royal Global School, Guwahati, he first competed in the Italian International Open, which featured nearly 100 players from various countries. In the tournament, Viraj scored 3.5 points, defeating several opponents rated above 1700 Elo and earning a rating gain of 122 points.
Following his success in Italy, the young chess player went on to participate in the Nordwest Cup (B Category Open) in Germany, where he faced higher-rated opponents, many with Elo ratings exceeding 2000. His strong showing in the highly competitive field resulted in an additional gain of 161 Elo points, taking his total improvement during the European tour to 290 points.
Viraj trains at the Mumbai Chess Center under the guidance of coach Srikanth Sarma Malladi and other senior trainers. His achievements at the international level at such a young age have drawn attention to Assam’s growing presence in competitive chess and highlighted the emerging pool of talent from the northeastern region.
Congratulating the young prodigy, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma lauded Viraj’s outstanding performances in Europe, stating that the achievement has made the state proud on the international stage.
Viraj’s recent success is being seen as a significant milestone in his promising chess career and a boost for youth sports in Assam.
