Interviews
BeyondBooks: ‘Chess has taught me time management’
Apeejay School Rama Mandi’s Class IX student reflects on how chess, from tactics to tournaments, has strengthened his skills
He is, at present, in Class IX and has been playing chess for about one and a half years now. He is an all-rounder because he genuinely enjoys many things, like badminton and writing poems. He even wrote one on Math for a competition at DAV College and won second prize for it. Meet Sahibjot Singh from Apeejay School, Rama Mandi.
In a candid interview, he talks about the skills chess has taught him, among other things.
What sparked your interest in chess?
One day, I was watching random things on TV. We usually cast videos from our phone to the TV, and that day my mother cast a video of chess. I already knew the rules, but the video showed tactics and analysis. I found it fascinating, like the game was built for me. That’s when I started playing seriously on the board. Later, I found more chess channels on YouTube.
What does ‘Elo’ mean?
It is a number scale used to measure the level of a chess player. Right now, I’m rated around 1,200 in 10-minute rapid games, 1,300 in 1-minute bullet games, and 1,200 in blitz. So I generally fall between 1200 and 1300. I’m now aiming for 1400, which is the intermediate level. The highest over-the-board FIDE rating ever achieved is 2,882 by Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen, who is, at present, the World No 1.
What skills has chess taught you that you didn’t have before?
It has taught me time management and patience. I’ve always liked showing my intelligence and focus, and chess matches that side of me perfectly. So the qualities I enjoy using, concentration, logic, and patience, are exactly what the game demands.
Do you have a favourite move or a memorable match?
I don’t have a specific favourite move, but I do have memorable games. Even titled players say that some games, especially earlier ones, teach them big lessons. One match I remember well is from my first tournament. In my first game, I sacrificed two pieces to open up my opponent’s king, and it worked brilliantly. I was very proud of that game.
How do you stay calm and focused?
It’s tough, especially during longer formats like rapid or classical games that last an hour or more. Even at the highest level, players’ heartbeats rise during tense moments. I saw a YouTube reel showing this, and it really proves how stressful long games can be. For me, whenever I feel pressure, I simply take a walk. That resets me. Otherwise, I don’t usually feel stressed during games.
