‘Speed demon’ shifts gears to ace classical chess

“There have been highs and lows but his focus and quiet determination always stood out.”

Nihal sees his strengths in calculation and the feel for dynamic positions.

“I try to stay calm, even amid total chaos on the board,” he says on his winning mantra.

With a live FIDE rating of 2,694 points, Nihal is now ranked 40. In the past few years, when Indian youth conquered world stages of chess, it seemed like he had fallen behind in the race.

“True. There was a phase where I played fewer events. Some of it was strategic and some personal. Chess isn’t always about moving forward at full speed. Sometimes you need a pit stop to refuel, recalibrate, and find your fire again. I’ve never felt like I was out of the race. Just that I was taking a slightly scenic route,” he quips.

With a packed schedule ahead, Nihal is hopeful of crossing the 2,700 rating points and achieving a coveted world championship spot.

“Getting back above 2,700 is definitely on the list. But more than numbers, I want to keep improving, enjoy the process, and challenge the best in the world consistently. I’d love to be a candidate for the world championship someday. But for now, I’m focused on playing my best chess, one move at a time,” he says.

With a great start to 2025, Nihal is set to compete in the Asian Continental Championship, Sharjah Masters, World Rapid and Blitz Team Championship, and the FIDE Grand Swiss, among others.