Delhi Father's Melody Guides Son to Chess Grandmaster Title Without Coach
"Main pal do pal ka shaayar hoon, pal do pal meri kahaani hai." These nostalgic Bollywood lines fill Gaurav Varshney's social media feed. The father often shares his melodious voice with an infectious smile. You would never guess this joyful man single-handedly raised India's latest chess sensation.
On Thursday, his 21-year-old son Aaryan Varshney clinched his final Grandmaster norm. He won the Andranik Margaryan Memorial in Armenia with a round to spare. This victory made him India's 92nd Grandmaster and the seventh from the national capital.
A Father's Resolve After Personal Loss
Gaurav Varshney serves as a Post Graduate Teacher in Physics in Delhi. He revealed the family's challenging journey during an exclusive conversation. "His mother left us when he was five. My parents and I have taken care of our boy since then," he said.
The whole family celebrates this achievement today. "Our whole family is very happy. My parents are also very happy. All of us tried a lot to get my son to this position," his father added with visible emotion.
Homegrown Training Without Conventional Methods
Gaurav's own chess interest began during his school and college days. He carried a silent desire within him. "I had a desire in my heart that if I don't become a great player, I have to make my son a great player."
That resolve transformed into action when Aaryan turned seven. Gaurav became his son's coach, initiating training at home without books, engines, or professional mentors. "It took me about two years to train him at home," he recalled.
In December 2014, Gaurav took his nine-year-old son to his first tournament. "It was his first tournament in his life. His rating was 1261 at that time," Gaurav said, referring to the old rating system. Remarkably, Aaryan's rating increased during that very first competition.
No Coach, No Shortcuts Philosophy
Aaryan's journey stands out for its unconventional approach. There have been no chess academies, no foreign camps, and no expensive trainers. "My son has no coach till date. My son will probably be the first person to become a grandmaster without a coach," Gaurav stated with palpable pride.
Their training method focused on practical learning. "We used the ChessBase software only and focused on openings. He learned by playing games, and I analysed each and every game of Aaryan, whether it was a win or a loss. We used to analyse for hours," Gaurav explained.
He continued with another surprising revelation. "You will be surprised that Aaryan has never read a chess book. Our main knowledge base was to play more and more. Chess is not a study. This is a game. Play and learn."
Rapid Progress and National Recognition
This unique approach yielded spectacular results. By July 2018, less than four years after his first tournament, Aaryan's rating had jumped from 1261 to 2309. That same month, he announced himself nationally by winning the National Under-13 Championship in Ahmedabad.
"In July 2018, my son became the National Under-13 Chess Champion. My son defeated all of them," Gaurav said with fatherly pride.
Overcoming Pandemic and Financial Challenges
The journey faced significant obstacles along the way. Aaryan earned his two International Master norms in 2019, but then the pandemic struck. "In 2020 and 2021, COVID came. If these two years had not been wasted, he would have become IM very soon," Gaurav noted.
Financial constraints presented another challenge. "I was a single parent and only earner," added Gaurav, who also cares for his aged parents, Ram Gopal Varshney and Gayatri Devi. "I could not leave my job and take my child out of India."
Remarkably, Aaryan achieved his International Master title in 2024 without ever playing in Europe. The family avoided expensive coaching models that others pursue. "People spend Rs 50,000 or Rs 1 lakh per month on coaches. I didn't take any coach. I never took my son to Europe," he said. "My son never asked for it, and because he also knows I had responsibilities."
Breathtaking Acceleration to Grandmaster Status
Once Aaryan crossed the IM hurdle in August 2024, progress accelerated dramatically. "It took him only one year and six months to become a Grandmaster," Gaurav revealed.
Three GM norms arrived in just six months through tournaments in Greece, Bangladesh, and now Armenia. "I am going to search whether taking three GM norms in six months is a world record or not," Gaurav added with a laugh.
Audacious Dreams for the Future
Now the father looks toward even bigger aspirations. "I asked my son about his future dream," Gaurav said, excitement evident in his voice. "He told me two dreams. First, he wants to become a World Champion. Second, in the coming time, if there is a match against Gukesh, he wants to defeat Gukesh. He has drawn two games and lost one against Gukesh. Now, he wants to beat him."
This represents an audacious dream, but then again, so was becoming a Grandmaster without a coach, without European exposure, and with just a father's belief as foundation. Sometimes a story really is only "pal do pal ki kahaani." And sometimes, that brief story changes the entire script.
Aaryan currently pursues a Bachelor of Arts degree from Delhi University while his father continues teaching physics. Their journey demonstrates what determined parenting and innovative training can achieve against all conventional wisdom.
