Masters of India (GM) Nihal Sarin won the 18th Tashkent Open at Agzamov Memorial in 2025 after his final match against GM Shamsiddin Vokhidov from Uzbekistan. He leads halfway through the rest of the game.
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Master Nihal Sarin is a champion of Tashkent Open Agzamov Memorial 2025! Nihal made a solid draw against Shamsiddin Vokhidov in the final round of the day. He ranked first with an astonishing 8/10 points and remained unbeaten throughout. pic.twitter.com/wirbiz4sfv
You are watching: Who is Nihal Sarin? Check his Early Life, Chess Journey and Achievements
– Chessbase India (@ChessBaseIndia) March 29, 2025
Nihal Sarin Rule Agzamov Memorial Hall 2025
The Agzamov Memorial Chess Championship was held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan from 21 to 29 March 2025. It has two parts: Group A attracts strong players, including eight ratings above 2600 and Group B, limited to the 2000 ELO rating. The match follows 10 rounds of Swiss format, with 90 minutes of time control and 30 seconds increments per step. Unlike some similar events, there are no rest days and no double rounds.
Nihal Sarin’s impressive victory
Nihal Sarin remained unbeaten, scoring 8/10 to finish first place. He is only half ahead of four players who share second to fifth place and ranks in tiebreaks:
- Sanan Sjugirov (Hungary)
- Abhimanyu Puranik (India)
- Bardiya Daneshvar (Iran)
- Shamsiddin Vokhidov (Uzbekistan)
The favorites before the tournament performed well, as one of eight of the top 10 players was.
The continued success of Rising Star and Nihar
Uzbek Im Khumoyun Begmuragov, 15, performed well, and finished ninth in 7/10, staying unbeaten.
The victory marked Nihal Sarin’s second biggest success in Uzbekistan in a short period of time. In December 2024, he won the Tashkent Presidential Cup 8.5/10. His performance at the Agzamov Memorial, with six wins and four draws, helped him get valuable ratings. Nihal is now only 5.9 points from the Elite 2700 rating club.
Early life and family background
Born in Thrissur, Kerala, Nihal Sarin spent his early years in Kottayam. His father, Sarin Abdulsalam, was a dermatologist, while his mother, Shijin Av Ummar, was a psychiatrist. Nihal has demonstrated extraordinary memory and cognitive abilities since he was a very young child. By the age of three, he could identify capitals and flags of 190 countries, recite scientific names for various plants and insects, and speak fluent English. His academic talent is obvious because he mastered the multiplication table from six to six years old.
The beginning of the chess journey
During school holidays, Nihal’s father introduced him to chess and bought him a set for him to participate. His grandfather, AA Ummar, taught him the basic rules and soon, his game talent became obvious. Nihal received formal chess training at Mathew P. Joseph Pottoore at Excelsior English School. Under the guidance of the coach, he honed his skills and in a short period of time he participated in state competitions.
Achievements of Early Chess Careers
Nihal’s first breakthrough came from the Kerala Chess Championship, where he won multiple titles:
- Under 07 Category: Champion
- Under 09 Category: Two Champions
- Under 11 Category: Two Champions
- Under 15 years old (sub-point) category: Champion
- State Senior Champion (2015): Win second at the age of 10
Additionally, he represented Kerala in the National Challenger Championship and received an impressive position in the National Level 1 competition:
- National Under 9 Champion (2013, Chennai)
- National Bronze Medal Under 11 (2014, Prie)
- National Silver Medal Under 11 (2015, Pondi Krie)
Up to Masters Championship
Nihal’s achievements in international activities mark a rapid rise in chess. Before becoming a master, he received several famous titles:
|
title |
Year |
|
Candidate Master (CM) |
2014 |
|
FIDE Master (FM) |
2015 |
|
International Master (IM) |
2017 |
|
Master (GM) |
2018 |
|
2024 International Presidents Cup |
2024 |
|
See more : Observation Skill Test: If you have Eagle Eyes Find the Number 467 in 15 Secs 18th Tashkent Open |
2025 |
His grandmother champion was founded at the age of 14, making him one of the youngest to achieve this feat. By the same era, he also crossed the 2600 ELO rating, an extraordinary milestone in chess.
International Achievements
Nihal represented India in many chess events, bringing famous championships and medals:
- Gold Medal: FIDE Chess Olympics (2020) (Hold online as part of the Indian team)
- World Youth Champion U-18 Champion (2020) (Hold in a Quick Form)
- 2019 World Cup: Become the youngest Indian to qualify at the age of 15 and advance to the second round
His ability to play quickly and blitz formats has gained wide recognition. Nihal is often compared to the legendary’s intuitive and aggressive playing style.
Current status and future prospects
As of July 2024, Nihal has an impressive FIDE rating:
|
FIDE level |
value |
|
Current rating |
2687 |
|
Peak level |
2676 |
His consistent performance and ability to challenge top players show what it is. Experts believe he is on his way to becoming a world-class contender for the world champion of chess.
Source: https://dinhtienhoang.edu.vn
Category: Optical Illusion