NEW DELHI: During Round 3 of the FIDE Candidates tournament a few weeks ago, 12-year-old FIDE Master (FM) Aarav Sarbalia virtually joined the commentary panel of a popular YouTube channel covering the action live from Cyprus. It was his first gig of this kind. He was repeatedly asked to analyze positions and predict moves as if he were playing for Super Grandmasters Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa or Javokhir Sindarov. Despite the complexity, the youngster navigated each position with ease, often foreseeing moves correctly.
This 12-year-old has become the online chess world's latest sensation, not only for his board skills but also for dominating social media feeds with what his father, Yatin Sarbalia, calls "fun reels." Yatin told TimesofIndia.com, "When we go to tournaments, parents say they liked our reels. Our aim is to share our journey in good content form to raise awareness." This approach has earned Aarav high-profile followers, including Hungarian legend Judit Polgar and Vishnu Prasanna, who coached world champion Gukesh Dommaraju. Yatin laughed, "I've heard Grandmasters tell their students to watch Aarav's content."
How Chess Made Its Way
The journey began in June 2020 when the Sarbalia family moved from Delhi to Bengaluru during the COVID-19 lockdown. Yatin, an IIT Roorkee alumnus and tech lead, only knew basic chess rules. After seeing a chess poster at Aarav's gymnastics class, they enrolled him in Chess Gurukul, run by legendary RB Ramesh. Yatin recalled, "I sat in his classes to learn and support him."
Entry into Social Media
By age 11, Aarav had become a FIDE Master, but sponsorship remained elusive despite his accolades. Yatin explained, "We tried hard but got no positive response. Sponsors asked about Aarav's presence, which we hadn't considered." To improve Aarav's communication skills and visibility, his parents took charge of social media. Aarav doesn't own a phone and spends at most two to three hours monthly on content creation, with parents scripting and shooting a month's content in one sitting. Aarav once asked, "Dad, can I become a good actor?" Yatin replied, "Focus on chess first."
Fruits of Labour
The visibility led to a sponsorship from a chess-oriented start-up, a vital breakthrough given the high costs of elite chess. Yatin admitted, "Financially, it's all savings. One year with three to four trips to Europe costs at least 12 to 15 lakhs." Because Aarav is 12, a parent must accompany him, doubling expenses. His parents take turns traveling while caring for his six-year-old sister. The results justify the sacrifice: Aarav's rating jumped from 1400 to 2000 in a two-month European trip, and by June 2024, he reached 2300, skipping the Candidate Master title to become a FIDE Master.
Chasing the Ultimate Title
To pursue the Grandmaster (GM) title, the family sought six-time national champion Surya Shekhar Ganguly. After six months of persistent effort, Ganguly tested Aarav and became his primary coach last year. Aarav's current standard rating is around 2247 after a dip in France, but he prepares for his next stint in Munich, Germany, in the GM category. Yatin said, "We keep our target as GM, not IM. All coaching is in that direction."
