Mumbai: A prodigy from Mumbai and India’s youngest to become a rated chess player, seven-year-old Dev Shah came up with his flash of brilliance that saw him clinch the most prestigious , ‘world schools title’ in the Under-7 category of the world schools chess championships that concluded at Juiz de Fora in Brazil.
Dev, a trainee of South Mumbai Chess Academy and student of Dhirubhai Ambani School has come a long way since he started as just another kid at the age of 3, enrolling in a chess institute, where he showed early signs of great potential which was duly noted and refined into the boy who is now the reigning champion of one of the most coveted titles of the year – The world schools’ champion.
On Thursday, at Juiz De Fora as the event came to a close, a new phase began for Dev who won in the U-7 Category playing chess champions for 27 countries, being the first from Mumbai to ever champion the event. He was among the three who scored the highest score which was a 7.5 points out of 9 tied with Ochirbat lkhahvajamts of Mongolia and Sindarov Islombek of Uzbekistan. However, he was ruled the victor on account of a better aggregate score.
With this title he also qualifies to hold the privileged title of Candidate Master, which is awarded by FIDE, with a current international rating of 1,448. Dev is one of the finest with a profile that is filled with numerous national and international awards, and is being trained since the age of four to become the country’s next date player. His current achievement was a result of strategic training and development of his talent and skill by his team of coaches at SMCA.
His parents Rahul and Krupali Shah, residents of Napeansea Road, are undoubtedly ecstatic and quite deservedly on top of the world, just like their son and express their bliss with the words, “We are proud to be the parents of a world schools chess champion.”
One of his coaches from SMCA, DV Ganesh, has expressed that their faith in his talent was unfailing and that they always knew this day would come, and despite the expectation it felt phenomenal.
Whereas, chief coach of SMCA and FIDE master, Balaji says, “When someone like Dev Shah who comes from a city like Mumbai and becomes a World Champion, it is a pretty huge accomplishment. And further, it is moments like these which inspire the young talents across the country to explore their talents”.
Well while his parents and coaches are hailing the new world schools champion and comparing him to the current chess sensation, Magnus Carlsen, the little Dev is vowing to beat Magnus, who says “Anand is my favourite, his techniques and tips have helped me to win this world schools chess championship”, when Anand was in Mumbai last month for the promotion of world junior chess championship, Dev interacted with him and also sought his blessings for a successful event.
“Dev will revolutionise chess not only in Mumbai but across the country and bring lots of excitement among younger viewers,” says Nagesh Guttula, Jt.Secretary, Mumbai City District Chess Association.
Dev Shah, has put his name down in history with his victory and will undoubtedly inspire countless people to hope for such herculean feats as they step into a world of their favorite sport.
