‘Fastest Checkmate Solver’: 9-Year-Old Nara Devaansh, Lokesh’s Son Sets World Record
Vijayawada: Nine-year-old Nara Devaansh, son of IT minister Nara Lokesh and grandson of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, has achieved an extraordinary milestone by setting a world record for solving 175 chess checkmate puzzles in the fastest time. This feat has earned him a place in the prestigious World Book of Records, London.
Brahmani Nara, Devaansh’s proud mother, expressed her excitement on social media, stating, “Overjoyed to share that Devaansh has achieved the World Record for ‘Fastest Checkmate Solver – 175 Puzzles’! Witnessing Devaansh’s dedication and perseverance over the years has been truly inspiring. Heartfelt gratitude to coach K Rajashekar Reddy and Roy Academy for guiding him to this incredible achievement.”
Chandrababu Naidu also shared his delight, commenting, “Well done, Nara Devaansh! Congratulations on setting the World Record for Fastest Checkmate Solver by completing 175 puzzles! Hard work, devotion, and perseverance are the key to success. You’ve worked diligently for several months to prepare for this achievement, and I’m proud of you, my little Grand Master!”
The record-setting event, named the ‘Checkmate Marathon,’ saw Devaansh tackle a series of progressively challenging puzzles drawn from László Polgár’s renowned chess compilation 5334 Problems, Combinations, and Games. Under the guidance of his coach, K Rajashekar Reddy, Devaansh trained intensively for nearly six months, dedicating five to six hours daily to hone his skills.
Coach Reddy remarked on his pupil’s achievement, saying, “Devaansh is a focused student who learns chess creatively. His mental agility is immense, and he solved 175 complex puzzles with sharp interest. I’m sure this is just a milestone in his chess journey.”
In addition to the ‘Fastest Checkmate Solver’ record, Devaansh accomplished two more notable feats. He completed the 7-disk Tower of Hanoi puzzle in just 1 minute and 43 seconds and arranged nine chess boards with all 32 pieces in their correct positions within five minutes. All his achievements were meticulously scrutinised and validated by adjudicators from the World Book of Records, London.
