An 11-year-old chess prodigy from Assam, Viraj Sarawgi, has made waves in his first European tour by gaining a record 290 FIDE Elo rating points across tournaments in Italy and Germany. The Grade 6 student from Royal Global School defeated higher-rated opponents and showcased remarkable maturity. His achievement highlights India's rising prowess in global chess.
Viraj Sarawgi, an 11-year-old from Assam, delivered a standout performance in back-to-back FIDE-rated international tournaments, marking his maiden European tour. The events began on January 23 and concluded recently, resulting in a remarkable 290 Elo point gain.
In the Italian international open, featuring nearly 100 players from around the world, Viraj scored 3.5 points out of 5. He defeated several opponents rated above 1700 Elo, earning a +122 Elo increase that caught the eye of the global chess community.
Building on this success, Viraj competed in the Nordwest Cup (B Category Open) in Germany. Facing experienced European players, including those over 2000 Elo, he achieved another strong showing with a +161 Elo gain, surprising participants and observers.
Trained at the Mumbai Chess Centre under mentor Coach Srikanth Sarma Malladi and his team, Viraj's progress stems from structured training and international exposure. Durga Nagesh Guttula, Principal and Chief Coach of the Chess Division at the Russian Cultural Centre in Mumbai, praised the young talent: “Viraj is an exceptionally talented and hardworking player with immense potential. On his very first European chess tour, he set the rating circuits on fire. In the coming days, we will hear much more about this outstanding Indian boy from Assam.”
Guttula further noted that Sarawgi’s breakthrough is a proud moment for Assam and India, underscoring the nation's growing dominance in world chess.