Nihal Sarin, born in Thrissur, India, is a chess grandmaster and one of the most promising talents of his generation. A child prodigy, he showed remarkable intellectual abilities from a young age, learning chess shortly after mastering the capitals and flags of over 190 countries. He won the World Under-10 Championship in 2014 and earned his grandmaster title at 14, becoming the third-youngest in history at the time.

Known for his calm, strategic style and exceptional calculation, Nihal has represented India with distinction, securing gold at the 2020 FIDE Online Chess Olympiad and individual board gold at the 2022 Chess Olympiad in Chennai. He has demonstrated impressive skill in rapid and blitz formats, claiming victories against elite players including Magnus Carlsen.

As of 2025, Nihal maintains a classical rating near 2698, with rapid and blitz ratings of 2641 and 2603, respectively. His consistent performances in top international events continue to establish him as one of India’s leading chess stars.