Nidhish Shyamal: The boy who started chess at five and conquered Nationals twice!

A modern-day challenge!

In today’s digital age, one of the biggest struggles parents face is, ‘How do I keep my children away from screens?’ We hear it everywhere, parents share tips with each other like they are revealing some secret recipe. ‘Try this, try that.’ Just snatching the phone away doesn’t really work; it’s like inviting a mini-rebellion. The most effective solution is to engage kids in meaningful activities. And many parents are trying this approach.

M. Swetha faced a similar dilemma when she noticed her son, Nidhish, spending hours watching YouTube videos. Like any concerned parent, she wanted to divert his attention toward something more productive and meaningful. She decided to introduce him to board games including chess.

At first, Nidhish was just curious. He learned how the pieces move, but soon, he started asking many questions. Why does the queen move so many squares? Why is the rook restricted to straight lines? What started as a distraction soon turned into an obsession! After seeing his growing interest, his mother decided to find a local coach for him.  

Nidhish has an innate talent for deeply understanding any concept. He grasps things very quickly. I always made sure to embed all the useful knowledge in him. - Nidhish’s mother proudly recalls.

Balancing parenting and a demanding career is not an easy thing. Swetha, an anesthesiologist working in critical care has very busy schedule. Yet, she remains deeply involved in Nidhish’s overall development. She encourages him to play outdoor games, but Nidhish’s answer remains the same, “I want to play chess.”

Another pillar of support in his journey is his grandmother, P. Yashodhara, a retired pediatrician. She knew the basic rules of chess and often played with Nidhish in his early days. 

At first, I would win, but after he got coaching, he became too strong for me! (laughs) - Nidhish’s grandmother recalled. 

After being his playing partner, it was time for a promotion! She soon took on the role of his travel companion and accompanied him to national and international tournaments. When Nidhish would be playing, she would watch the games or just have conversations with other parents. For her, it was fun, especially because many were curious about Nidhish’s training after watching him defeat one opponent after another! 

The defining moment! 

Every chess player has a defining moment: A moment which tests their resilience and ability to bounce back. For Nidhish, it came at the National U-7 Championship in 2022, just a year after he started formal coaching. He was in great form but suffered a setback in the eighth round.

Speaking of this tournament, his grandmother said, “We didn’t pressure him. I just told him to play as he does at the academy and not think about the results.” While his mother, though supportive, admitted that she was a little bit upset. But what amazed her was how quickly Nidhish moved on from that loss. 

Within ten minutes, he was fine, ready to fight again. He was mentally stronger than me! - Swetha said with a proud smile. 

Nidhish’s strength paid off! He won his next three games and became the National U-7 Champion. Within just two years of learning chess, he had already claimed the national title!

Nidhish is continuously rising in his chess career, but that doesn’t mean his academics have taken a backseat. While many assume that excelling in one area might come at the cost of another, Nidhish is proving otherwise. Every day he dedicates 30 minutes to an hour to his studies. At such a young age, the kid is learning to balance between chess and academics. 

Apart from family and coach, kids also need support from their school. Fortunately, Nidhish’s school allows him to participate in tournaments without any academic penalties. They even grant him long leaves of 3 weeks to a month before an important tournament. In such a case, he completely focuses on chess for almost 8 hours a day. Because of this support, he is able to thrive in both disciplines.

In 2021, Nidhish’s family moved to Hyderabad, where his chess coaching truly began. Having a good mentor early on can really help succeed later. And for Nidhish, that mentor was Amitpal Singh at Maestro Chess Academy. Under his guidance, Nidhish’s passion, dedication, and sincerity for the game just kept flourishing! 

Nidhish joined the Maestro Chess Academy after becoming the National U-7 Champion. His rating was around 1200, but after joining the academy, his rating just skyrocketed as mentioned by his coach, Amitpal Singh.  

He was already talented. The only thing was, we had to take it from there. - Amitpal Singh

Amitpal also shared a key insight while talking about Nidhish's journey. He revealed that competitive play wasn’t the only factor behind Nidhish’s improvement. It was endgame studies. But what led him to this realization? A training program with RB Ramesh. He observed that the Dronacharya Awardee incorporated many endgame studies into Praggnanandhaa’s training routine. Amitpal thought, "If it’s useful for one player, why not try it with others?" So, he introduced it into his academy. And voilà! He immediately saw tremendous growth in his students including Nidhish. A coach learns from another coach!

Amit also emphasized the crucial role of parental support and mental coaching in a player’s journey. The importance of mental health in chess gained attention after Paddy Upton’s role in Gukesh’s World Championship victory came to light. However, Amit pointed out that many chess coaches have been guiding their players in this aspect for years. He himself shares personal experiences and teaches players to overcome setbacks. In this way, he shapes their game as well as their mindset.

Nidhish started this year by winning the National U-9 Open Chess Championship. While most people were still thinking about their New Year’s resolutions, this young boy was already securing another national title!

This victory, like the previous one, was not easy. He had a strong start, but in the eighth round, he lost to Kapil Aarit. Interestingly, when Nidhish won the U-7 Championship, Kapil was the runner-up. Perhaps this was Kapil’s revenge match! Despite the loss, Nidhish remained calm. He showed the same resilience that had carried him through before. He focused, he fought back and he conquered. Nidhish became the National U-9 Open Chess Champion! In fact, he wasn’t even aware that he had won until he received a call from his coach. 

According to Nidhish, his achievements are the result of his rigorous practice and regular participation in local tournaments. His goal is to become the World Champion in the next ten years. But looking at his journey so far, he is very much capable of achieving it even sooner! For his family, it was never a forced objective. As they said, “It all happened naturally. Chess started as a hobby, but his dedication and hard work turned it into something much bigger.”

With strong family support, the right mentorship, and a determined mindset, Nidhish is on his way to making his mark in the chess world!

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