Aarav Sarpalia Reframes Chess as Content (Special Arrangements)
NEW DELHI: It was a third-round match between Rameshbabu Pragnananda and the eventual winner, Javokhir Sindarov, in the FIDE Candidates Championship just a few weeks ago. Aarav Sarpalia, 12, a FIDE (FM) professor, joined virtually the commentary panel of the popular YouTube channel covering the event live from Cyprus.It was Aarav’s first gig of this kind. He was asked several times to analyze the situation and predict what he would play if he was sitting in the seats of Pragnananda or Sindarov.Both players are great masters, matching their deep understanding of the lines on the board, and predicting their tricks in advance is not easy for everyone. However, this young man, who rarely indulged in non-chess conversations while on the committee, was able to navigate the complexities of each situation, often anticipating the moves in advance.
He watches
Harika Dronavalli Exclusive: Inside Grenke’s #chess win, the viral no-handshake incident, and more
Believe it or not, this 12-year-old is the latest sensation in the online chess world. However, it’s not just what he does with his pieces on the 64 squares, it’s what he does with them by dominating every chess enthusiast’s social media feeds with what his father, Yatin Sarpalia, calls “fun reels.”“When we go to tournaments, parents come and say, ‘We liked this particular person.’ What you wrote about parents was good,” Yatin told TimesofIndia.com during an exclusive chat.
“Our goal is not just to share what happens in the nominees or show what tournament Aarav won. Our goal is to take what we have learned and our journey and disseminate it in the form of good content to make people more aware.”
The process has led to the young man gaining some notable followers, from Hungarian chess legend Judit Polgár to Vishnu Prasanna, the man credited with shaping world champion Gokesh Domaraju.“I’ve heard that some professors have asked their students to go and watch Aarav’s content,” Yatin laughed.
How chess made its way
The journey did not begin in a home where chess was a way of life. In fact, Yatin, an IIT Roorkee alumnus who is now a technology lead in Bengaluru, only knew the basic rules of the game.In June 2020, when Covid-19 shut down the world indoors, Sarpalya’s family moved from Delhi to Bengaluru. As school and work moved to the home office, the family looked for a productive outlet.
Aarav Sarpalia plays against his father (special arrangements)
Back in Delhi, Yatin sees a chess poster while picking up Aarav from gymnastics.
Knowing that his son was good verbally at arithmetic, they tried it.Once they reached Bengaluru, they enrolled him in Chess Gurukul, the academy run by the legendary RB Ramesh.“It was a good time because we spent time as a family,” Yatin recalls. “When Aarav was attending his classes, I would sit with him in class so that I could learn a little too. I could help and support him if there was something he didn’t understand.”
Login to social media
The shift to social media was born out of a cold, hard sporting reality.
At the age of 11, Aarav has already become a Master of the International Chess Federation. They started looking for sponsors. Despite Aarav’s accolades, including first and second place finishes in age group tournaments across different forms of the game, the family found doors remained closed.“We tried hard to find sponsorship, but we did not get a positive response,” Yatin explained. “Care is a two-way street. People were asking: What is Aarav’s existence?” “We never thought about social existence.”Coupled with the desire to improve Aarav’s communication and verbal skills, the parents decided to take matters into their own hands. While Aarav focuses on chess, his parents focus on his social media presence.
Aarav Sarpalya’s family (special arrangements)
However, this process is strictly regulated. Aarav doesn’t have a phone and knows nothing about swiping culture.“In a month, Aarav does not spend more than two-three hours on this. We set a specific time when we need him to act,” Yatin told this website.Parents write down ideas and shoot a month’s worth of content in one sitting. For Aarav, it remains a game within a game. “He once asked me: ‘Dad, can I be a good actor too?’ His father added: “And I said, ‘Let’s focus on chess first.’”
The fruits of labor
Besides gaining followers, the vision has already paid off in a more visible way. Not long ago, a chess startup sponsored Aarav and decided to support him.
This was a momentous achievement, given the high costs of elite chess involving high-ranking tournaments abroad.“Financially, this is all our savings. In one year, if you take three or four trips to Europe and stay for three to four months, you will spend at least 12 to 15 thousand,” Yatin admitted.
We maintain our purpose as GM. We do all the training and everything in this direction.
Yatin Sarpalia, Aarav’s father
Since Aarav is only 12 years old, a parent always has to travel with him, which doubles the cost. Yatin and his wife take turns traveling, taking turns taking care of their six-year-old daughter in Bengaluru.But the results on the board justify the sacrifice. Aarav went from a rating of 1400 to 2000 in just a two-month trip to Europe. By June 2024, he had risen to 2,300, surpassing the Candidate Master (CM) title altogether to become a FIDE Master.
Chasing the final title
To navigate the treacherous waters between the year 2300 and earn the title of Grandmaster (GM), the family sought the best. They have set their sights on Suriya’s Shekhar Ganguly, the six-time national champion and former second to Viswanathan Anand.“We contacted him and tried hard, followed him on Instagram, and sent him messages,” Yatin revealed.It took six months of constant chasing before Ganguly agreed to audition the young man. Aarav has nailed it and since last year, Ganguly has been his main coach.Read also: The making of India’s 95th GM: Aruniyak Ghosh, from chasing fees for the upcoming tournament to comforting parentsAarav’s current record rating stands at around 2247 after a slight dip in France, but the focus remains steady as he prepares for his next stint in Munich, Germany, where he plays in the GM category.The family isn’t interested in the extra steps anymore, Yatin said: “We don’t think in our minds that our next goal is IM (International Master). We are keeping our goal as GM. We are doing all the training and everything in that direction.”
