Meet Shashini Puvi, the 6 year old Indian Chess prodigy whipping up a storm!

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At a tender age when kids start learning the game of chess, Shashini Puvi from Bangalore is setting a benchmark. At just 6 years of age, Shashini has already been the crowned champion of three national level tournaments. Her most most recent triumph came in the 2019 National Schools Championship held in Aurangabad, Maharashtra, where the young girl secured a gold medal. A chess prodigy, Shashini is expected to become one of the strongest youth chess players in the country in the near future.

A student of National Public School, Hosur Road, Bangalore in Grade 1, Shashini Puvi started playing chess when she was three and a half years old. She is currently receiving professional training at the Chess Shoots Academy, Bangalore under coach Hanumantha R.

A total of 1007 players took part in the ninth edition of the National Schools Championship back in December 2019. Shashini, representing Karnataka, became the winner of the under-6 girls category with a score of 8.0/9. She was half a point ahead than second place Myrah Sachdev representing the hosts Maharashtra. Despite losing her second round match, she stunningly won all of the remaining games of the tournament.

Shashini Puvi along with other under-6 champions (Image Courtesy: Grandmaster Chess Foundation)

In January 2018, Shashini won her first national title at a striking age of 5 in the seventh National School Chess Championships held in Bhubaneswar, Odhisha, where she was competing in the under-5 category.

Her second national level trophy also came in 2018 at the 32nd National under-7 Open and Girls Chess Championships held in Tumkur, Karnataka. Another under-5 category title, its her second national title at the age of 5.

Shashini winning her first (left) and second (right) national level titles.

Shashini’s first chess tournament was the Karnataka State Under 9 Chess Championship in 2017, and she came out on top in her first state level championship, and she was just 4 years old.

Shashini winning her first state level championship at the age of 4 in 2017.

Along with her glorious national level achievements, Shashini achieved remarkable rankings in various other state championships in Karnataka. She secured first place in Under 7 Open Category of Karnataka State Open FIDE rated Under 17 chess Championship 2020 held in Bengaluru. She was ranked fifth in the under 9 girls Category of Karnataka State Under 9 Chess Championship 2020. In 2019, she also secured fourth ranks in both Karnataka State Under 9 and Under 7 Chess Championship 2019.

Shashini with her parents (left), with coach Hanumantha R (right)

A lover of drawing, Shashini receives training from her coach for two hours every week. Aiming to achieve the title of Grand Master in future, she aspires to meet her favourite chess player Viswanathan Anand one day. With such a staggering list of achievements in such a young age, Shashini is expected to become one of the greatest chess players of India in future.

Shashini with her collection of trophies

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