Tamizh Amudhan, a nine-year-old from India, has achieved the rare feat of surpassing 2000 Elo in chess, making him the world number one in the under-9 category. His journey includes winning a Maruti Suzuki car for a silver medal at the Athens of the East Chess Tournament last year. The young prodigy's success highlights both his talent and his family's sacrifices.
Tamizh Amudhan began learning chess at age four from his cousins in Kallakurichi, India. Without formal coaching initially, he impressed at a district tournament, scoring three out of five points against experienced players. Bus driver and part-time coach Ravichandran noticed his potential and offered free lessons.
By age six, Tamizh scored a perfect nine out of nine in a state under-9 tournament, the only player in any category to do so without coaching. His family sought better training and joined the Hatsun Chess Academy, which boosted his skills in faster formats.
Tamizh's rating rose quickly. At eight, he became the youngest player to cross 2000 Elo and earned the Candidate Master title. By February 2026, he reached world number one in under-9. He once gained over 350 Elo points in a single month.
Internationally, he represented India at the 2025 Asian Youth Chess Championship, winning four silver medals and one bronze. At the Athens of the East tournament, he secured silver with 8.5 out of nine points and received a Maruti Suzuki car as a prize.
His family supports him despite challenges. His father, a Group B government officer from an agricultural background, and homemaker mother have separated temporarily: the mother lives 350 kilometers away with Tamizh for training, while the father stays home with sister Uthisha, aged ten.
Financial constraints have caused missed tournaments, like the Commonwealth and Western Asia Youth Championships. His father said, "We might have skipped this field if we knew earlier," referring to costs for travel, fees, and equipment. Sponsorship could help Tamizh compete more.