Story of U-13 Open Champion Reyan Md: Bihar’s potential first grandmaster

It started with a flip

All the biggest journeys begin in the simplest ways. It’s the little things that spark something extraordinary, not the big moments. For a child, a small encounter, a passing interest, or a small toy can ignite something that shapes a future. For Reyan Md, it was a simple Ludo box that led to an extraordinary adventure.

When 8-year-old Reyan topped his class in the 2nd grade, his family couldn’t have been prouder! To celebrate his achievement, his grandparents surprised him with a Ludo box. Reyan was naturally excited after seeing the gift, but his excitement grew when he noticed something on the backside of the Ludo box. He flipped the board over and found the checkered pattern. Some strange-looking pieces caught his attention. The little curious boy completely forgot Ludo and started exploring the new game. This small moment was the beginning of his journey to becoming the National U-13 Champion!

Reyan’s parents saw his interest turning into passion and soon, training arrangements were made for him. His first coaches were his grandparents! They were not chess experts, but he needed their encouragement to get started with the game. Their games sparked the drive to learn more about chess. This was the perfect time to seek professional guidance from coaches.

Reyan transitioned from casual games to formal training. Ved Prakash was his first formal coach who laid the foundation for his journey. He improved his skills further under the guidance of Rakesh Ranjan and Vipal Subhashi. Then came the pandemic and the challenges along with it! The training shifted to an online mode with the challenge of adapting to a new format while staying focused. Reyan took online classes with Ashutosh Kumar to stay on track despite the unusual circumstances. He also had the incredible opportunity to learn from GM Alexander Goloshapov from Ukraine.

For the past two years, Reyan has been training under Siddhant Gaikwad. He specially mentioned that his strategic and endgame skills have significantly improved under his guidance.

He is not only an exceptional coach but also someone who truly understands me. - Reyan shared.

Reyan has also been attending group classes with Ramesh Ramachandran which has been an excellent addition to his training journey.

Reyan has already achieved big milestones in his young career. Some of them are:

1. Winner of the 37th National U-13 Open Championship in 2024

2. Senior Bihar State Championship in 2024

3. Winner of the 12th National U-13 Schools Chess Open Championship in 2024

According to him, one of his proudest moments was winning the Senior Bihar State Championship in 2024 with a perfect score of 9/9!

It was a tough event, but I managed to stay focused and overcome the challenges. - Reyan shared his memorable chess moment.

Reyan's favorite game so far is against Adhiraj Mitra at the recent 37th National Under-13 Open Championship. In this game, around the 18th move, Reyan gained a significant advantage over the board by dominating both the kingside and queenside. A classic exchange sacrifice with 29. Nxc2+ completely dismantled White's defense. It ultimately led to a decisive win for Reyan.

These achievements prove his ability to outperform the strongest players. The youngster is already seen as a promising contender to become Bihar’s first Grandmaster. He is currently aiming to perform well at the upcoming World Youth Championship.

While chess has become Reyan’s strong passion, his love for studies has always been there. He is currently studying in the 8th grade at GD Goenka Public School in Patna. At such a young age, he has found a way to balance academics and chess consistently. He gives credit to his School Principal, Mr. Madhukar Jha, for the encouragement and understanding they showed towards Reyan. For young players, having the support of their school always helps in nurturing their talent and Reyan’s school is successful in doing so!

Not only the school, but his family has also been a pillar of strength throughout his journey. Though the story started with his grandparents encouraging him to play chess, it’s his parents who have been the backbone, and who have made countless sacrifices to support his dreams. 

My parents made countless sacrifices, and my grandparents blessed me every step of the way - Reyan talked about his pillar of strength.

Apart from that, guidance from the President of the All Bihar Chess Association, Mr. Diljeet Khanna and the association’s secretary, Mr. Dharmendra has also been instrumental in Reyan’s journey. Reyan specially mentioned DG Raveendran Sankaran Sir of Patna, whose support and encouragement have been a constant source of motivation for him.

Chess is more than just a game for Reyan. “It has taught me to never give up, no matter the situation. Win or lose, the key is to keep fighting,” he shared. One of his greatest inspirations is Gukesh (No surprise) because of his calm yet aggressive playing style. The World Champion’s outstanding performance at the 2022 Olympiad in Chennai impressed Reyan so much that he wished to follow his hero’s approach in his own games.

While chess remains his main passion, Reyan believes in maintaining a balance between mental and physical health. He loves playing table tennis and cycling to stay physically active. Beyond sports, this young Champion cherishes spending quality time with his father who often joins him in these activities.

The current National U-13 Chess Champion is really proud of his journey so far! This is a result of his hard work, but he gives credit to his family for their constant support. His mother’s advice, “If you work hard, you will find success,” keeps him going. It’s clear that this boy has a bright future ahead. And as for Ludo? Well, it’s just rolled out of the picture!