Mumbai chess champ Kush Bhagat is on his way to become India's next Grandmaster

Thirteen-year-old Kush Karan Bhagat, who is a Mumbai chess champ, achieved the distinction of becoming a FIDE Master now with a massive rating of 2302, as per the latest FIDE ratings released on Thursday.

Kush, the eighth standard student of the American School of Bombay in Bandra, broke into the world’s top 20 young chess players and also became India’s No.3 player. 

“Kush is highly dedicated with good work ethics. As an attacking player, he loves playing sharp and wriggling out of complicated positions. He travels across the world for tournaments and aspires to become Grandmaster in 2 years' time,” said an elated coach Balaji Guttula of SMCA.

Kush was taken to chess at the tender age of 3 after being enchanted by the way the pieces moved. After starting to compete in tournaments from city to national and international levels. He went on to win several prestigious events and beat a Grandmaster at the age of 10.

He holds the record of being the first Indian to win triple gold in an official Asian tourney. Kush also set a new record by gaining 500 Elo points in the last one month.