MBA student leads India to chess glory

New Delhi

India’s victory at the FIDE World Rapid Team Championship in London stunned the chess world, not just for the gold medal but for the unexpected hero — Atharvaa Tayade, a 24-year-old MBA student from IIM-Calcutta and a self-described “recreational” player.

Tayade, whose classical rating of 1926 hadn’t changed since 2015, was roped in by team captain N. Srinath in March to fill the tournament’s requirement for one amateur player per team. Despite years away from competitive chess, Tayade returned in spectacular fashion, scoring 11 wins in 12 rounds and losing only in the final game. His performance played a pivotal role in Team MGD1’s historic title win, making them the first Indian team to clinch gold in the event’s three-year history.

A former national age-group champion and IIT-Bombay alumnus, Tayade left chess for academics but stayed active online. He only played one local tournament before London, relying largely on online practice. “It was unexpected. I was preparing for my internship when I got Srinath’s message. I never imagined I’d be playing at the world level again,” he said.

Despite being in awe of teammates like Arjun Erigaisi and Pentala Harikrishna, Tayade quickly found acceptance. His calm demeanor and strategic brilliance earned comparisons to China’s Pang Bo, known for dominating the amateur board in 2024. Back at IIM-Calcutta, Tayade has become an overnight sensation. Though unsure about pursuing chess professionally, his performance has rekindled national attention on the sport — and on its quiet, unexpected heroes.