Using mobile data and candle light during power cut, Indian chess prodigy Tamizh Amudhan stuns world No 7

On a rainy Friday night in Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu, eight-year-old Tamizh Amudhan made headlines after bringing down world No 7 Vincent Keymer in an online blitz game on Friday, announcing himself on the circuit.

Despite a power outage in his area, Amudhan remained composed, sitting in front of a flickering candle with his laptop balanced on a pillow, as he faced Keymer across the board during the latest edition of Freestyle Friday.

Tamizh eventually defeated the German No 1 using black pieces during the online chess tournament organised by Chess.com.

Who is Tamizh Amudhan?

Eight-year-old Tamizh was born on September 2, 2017, and originally hails from Kallakurichi in Tamil Nadu. As per chessbase.in, the Indian chess prodigy was just four when he learned the game, with the exposure coming from his cousins. Tamizh had an intuitive wisdom, showcasing promising strides as he set foot in the game.

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The young kid has been living in a rented house with his mother nearly 350 km away in Thiruthangal, near Sivakasi – a town famous for its firecracker and matchstick industries – for the past one year in order to focus on his training. His father stays with his sister, and the family has adopted the arrangement to help their son prosper and pursue a career in the game.

Tamizh's father speaks on his son's perseverance

The photograph of Amudhan competing in the Freestyle Friday tournament has become viral, as it displays his perseverance and poise despite his laptop running low on charge. With no power due to heavy rainfall, the eight-year-old had to use a mobile hotspot to connect and play the online tournament.

Tamizh's father, Sathish Arumugam, clicked the picture right after defeating Keymer, as he was seen sitting on the floor with just a candle lit in the room.

“It was raining very heavily with winds. He came back from chess coaching only around 6:30 pm and was drenched. He freshened up and insisted that he wanted to play, despite the electricity being out and internet issues,” Tamizh's father, Sathish, said to Sportstar.

The eight-year-old did not have the best situation, but he proved that it takes more than just a glossy setup to stand up and deliver.