An 11-year-old chess prodigy from Assam, Viraj Sarawgi, has impressed the international chess community by earning 290 Elo rating points across two FIDE-rated tournaments in Italy and Germany. The sixth-standard student from Guwahati's Royal Global School scored notable victories against higher-rated opponents. His performances highlight his rapid rise in the sport under dedicated coaching.
Viraj Sarawgi, an 11-year-old student from Assam, showcased remarkable talent in two consecutive FIDE-rated chess tournaments held in Europe from January 23 to February 2, 2026. The young player, studying in the sixth standard at Royal Global School in Guwahati, first competed in the Italian International Open, which featured nearly 100 participants.
In Italy, Viraj secured 3.5 points by defeating several opponents with Elo ratings exceeding 1700. This achievement resulted in a significant boost of 122 Elo rating points for him. Continuing his momentum, he participated in the Nordwest Cup's B Category Open in Germany, where he faced even tougher competition from players rated over 2000 Elo. There, Viraj gained an additional 161 rating points through strong performances against these high-caliber adversaries.
The total gain of 290 Elo points underscores Viraj's exceptional skill and dedication to chess. He trains at the Mumbai Chess Centre under the guidance of coach Srikanth Sarma Malladi and other instructors. These tournaments mark a promising start for the young prodigy, drawing attention to India's emerging chess talents on the global stage.
No direct quotes from Viraj or his coach were available in the reports, but his results speak to his potential in the competitive world of international chess.