Young Chess Prodigy Devesh Sharma Shines in Competitive Arena, Aiming for Grandmaster Title

Edinburgh’s Chess Prodigy: 11-Year-Old Devesh Sharma Competes Against Adults

EDINBURGH – Meet Devesh Sharma, an 11-year-old chess prodigy from Edinburgh who is making waves in the chess community by competing against adults, having outgrown his peers in skill and strategy. Tipped as a future Grandmaster, Devesh recently showcased his talent at a four-nations under-18 chess competition, where he stood out as one of the top-rated players.

Devesh’s journey into the world of chess began during the pandemic when he discovered the game while playing with his father. His passion quickly grew, leading him to establish a chess club at Gracemount Primary School. “I love chess because it’s a great way to meet people from around the world and make new friends,” Devesh shared during his travels from Ireland to England for his next competition. “Winning is nice, but what I appreciate most is that it’s not a game of luck; it’s all about hard work.”

Despite his young age, Devesh has developed an “aggressive” style of play, though he admits that competing against older players can be intimidating. “I do feel nervous before the games, but once you’re in the game, you have to focus on the board, not the person,” he explained. His school has been incredibly supportive, allowing him to take time off for tournaments.

Devesh’s ultimate dream is to become a world champion and Grandmaster. Recently, he achieved a remarkable third place in the annual Scottish Chess Championships held in Hamilton. Just last week, he played as the top board for Scotland in the Glorney Gilbert International in Limerick, facing teams from England, Wales, and Ireland. His father, Rajiv Sharma, expressed pride in his son’s accomplishments, noting, “It’s an amazing opportunity for a child. Devesh was thrilled to represent Scotland.”

In this competition, Devesh won four out of five games, with his only loss being a hard-fought five-hour match against the highest-ranked Irish player. However, Rajiv voiced concerns about the lack of government support for chess in Scotland. “I’m just the helper—Devesh is the one driving the show. In other countries like India, there’s significant investment in chess talent, but here, we struggle with funding for travel and accommodation to competitions.”

Ruaridh McKay, a director at Chess Scotland, praised Devesh’s rapid development. “In 2023, he was bottom board of the under-12s. Now, just three years later, he’s top board at the under-18s. That’s remarkable.”

The surge in chess popularity, partly fueled by the Netflix mini-series The Queen’s Gambit, has inspired many young players, but the support system in Scotland remains a challenge. As Devesh continues to rise through the ranks, the chess community hopes that more resources will be allocated to nurture talents like him.

With dreams of becoming a world champion, Devesh Sharma is not just a chess player; he’s a beacon of hope for the future of chess in Scotland. As he continues to break barriers, the world will be watching closely to see how far this young prodigy can go.