Meet Rosh Jain, the 10-year-old chess prodigy who wants to be the youngest Grandmaster

India has won the Gold medal in the online chess event organised by Chess Federation of Sri Lanka from March 25, 2022 to March 27, 2022. The team comprising Rosh Jain, Md. Imran, Sharon Rafael, Mrithunjay Mahadevan and Jaivardhan Raj selected by All India Chess Federation to participate in Asian Nations Cup Online won the Gold Medal. Rosh Jain being the top performer won the Individual Gold Medal as well by remaining undefeated in the tournament scoring 8.0 Points in 9 rounds including 7 Wins and 2 Draws. At present, Rosh has a FIDE (The International Chess Federation) Rating of 2221. In a candid interview, Rosh tells us how he got fascinated with chess, shares his mantra on balancing studies with hobbies, spills the beans on his future plans, and more. Edited excerpts:

How did you develop an interest in Chess?

My mother (Ms. Shilpa Jain) introduced me to Chess when I was 3 and I fell in love with the game ever since. I find the Chess stimulating and intriguing. There are also so many important life lessons one can learn chess. It teaches you to have a strategy, to have backup plans, to be decisive, creative and take risks. It also bolsters your concentration power which is useful in everyday life when confronted with assignments, daily tasks, and deadlines.

Who is your role Model?

Magnus Carlsen, the Norwegian grandmaster and reigning world champion. He plays the game flawlessly and is far ahead of the opposition.

What are your hobbies?

I like to read books, do coding and apart from English and Hindi I can speak Spanish and Chinese. At 4, I started learning Chinese and around a couple of years ago I got introduced to Spanish, the reason being, I want to be able to connect with people from different backgrounds and perspectives. Since I also love to code, I have developed a few apps on my own.

How much time do you devote to Chess each day?

On average, I spend 6-7 hours a day playing Chess. It’s a highly competitive sport, so you have to put in the required effort to get the desired results.

Do you struggle to balance studies with hobbies?  

I had no problem balancing the two as I have full backing of my parents and teachers. It’s also important to create a timetable to know what things to accomplish during what times. I believe pursuing your hobbies is essential as they are a critical element of personal growth.  

What are your future plans?

I want to become the youngest Grandmaster in Chess history. The record is currently held by Indian-American prodigy Abhimanyu Mishra. (He took 12 years, four months, and 25 days to obtain the highest title in chess).

Share with us your roadmap?

I am keeping things simple. I plan to improve myself a bit every day to become the best version of myself. The emphasis is on working on my weaknesses.