11-year-old Charvi inspires at the MMA Women's Day Programme
At a special International Women’s Day event, 500+ professionals came together to celebrate inspiring journeys. Among the speakers was 11-year-old chess talent Charvi Anilkumar, making it a truly special moment. She is one of India’s brightest young talents who has won multiple world and Asian titles. She became the second youngest girl in the world to cross 2300 Elo mark. She is also a recipient of the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar. Her presence at such a platform reflects the growing recognition of Indian chess. Read the article to dive into Charvi’s inspiring interaction.
Charvi Anilkumar in the spotlight
Recently, on the occasion of International Women's Day, the Madras Management Association organised a special event celebrating women achievers. They brought together over 500 professionals from diverse industries to share their experience and inspire others. Among the speakers at the event was young Indian chess talent Charvi Anilkumar. She offered insights from her journey in the world of chess.
Charvi has already built an impressive résumé. She clinched multiple gold medals in 2022, including at the World Under-8 Girls Championship, the Asian Youth Championship, the World Cadet Championship (Under-8 Girls), and the Commonwealth Under-8 Girls event. She is also a former National Champion in both the Under-8 and Under-10 categories. In recognition of her accomplishments, she was honoured with the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar in 2024. She also became the second youngest girl in the world to cross the 2300 Elo mark.
Below is the full transcript of her talk:
Jayashree Sundaresan (JS): In chess, every move matters. During a match, you sit there for minutes thinking about your next move, right? Many leaders in this room think a couple of moves ahead, while you might be thinking 10 moves ahead. So what goes on in your mind when you are trying to decide your next move?
Charvi Anilkumar (CA): When I am deciding on my next move, I first evaluate the position. I consider factors like king safety, pawn structure, and control of key squares. Based on this, I identify a few candidate moves. Then I start calculating. I try to visualise several moves ahead, while also anticipating my opponent’s best responses. I always check for tactical possibilities. My intuition also plays a big role. I trust it by recalling patterns I have learned during training. Finally, before I make a move, I do a quick blunder check to make sure I haven’t missed anything. My goal is always to choose the best move that improves my position while making my opponent’s plans more difficult.
I think this applies to all fields. We identify a problem, look for solutions, and pick the best one. It teaches patience and logical thinking. I remember one funny incident. I was playing a tournament in France and thought my round was at 4:00 p.m., but it was actually at 3:00 p.m. I was getting ready at 3:40! Thankfully, the walkover time was one hour. My mother’s friend called and informed us, and I just ran to the venue and still managed to win the game.
JS: That’s amazing. There are so many lessons in what she just shared, from pattern recognition to thinking through possibilities and anticipating the opponent’s response. Charvi, I have to ask you this. You have played against grandmasters and met the President and the Prime Minister of India. Most adults would feel nervous in such situations. Where does that calm and composure come from? Is it natural, or something you have trained?
CA: I think it’s a bit of both. Some of it comes naturally, but a lot comes from practice and experience. Playing many games and handling different situations helps me stay calm and focused. When we stay calm, we can find good moves even in difficult positions. I believe that I either win or learn. Earlier, when I lost, I used to feel very bad. But now, I try to understand my mistakes and learn from stronger players. The first time I beat a grandmaster, the game lasted more than six hours. I kept fighting till the very end, and that helped me win.
Feeling nervous is natural, but staying calm and focused helps me perform better. That’s why I practise breathing exercises and meditation daily…
JS: She also does yoga, by the way!
CA: Yes (laughs). Meeting the President and the Prime Minister was a very special moment for me. It motivated me to work even harder.
JS: Wonderful. She deserves a big round of applause! “I either win or learn.” That’s such a powerful takeaway. Let’s do a quick rapid-fire round. One-word answers. Favourite chess piece?
CA: Knight.
JS: Would you like an undo button in chess, but remember, your opponent also gets it?
CA: No. I prefer to focus on my next move.
JS: What does preparation for an international tournament look like for you?
CA: My coach always says you should not prepare for just one tournament, but for overall improvement. So I focus on consistent and intense preparation.
Charvi’s answers reflected a great level of clarity and maturity for someone so young. It was evident that her understanding of the game goes far beyond her years. Her philosophy of “I either win or learn” is something we all can learn. She conveyed some deep ideas with simplicity. If this is the clarity she already possesses, her journey ahead promises to be just as remarkable, both on and off the board.
