8-year-old TN boy defeats World no. 7 chess grandmaster under candlelight in online tournament

Rain lashed Thiruthangal near Sivakasi on Friday night. Power had been out since 6 pm. But inside a modest rented house, eight-year-old Tamizh Amudhan refused to miss his online game. With his laptop on his lap, a candle beside him, and his father’s mobile providing internet through hotspot, he logged into the Freestyle Friday blitz tournament.

At the other end was Germany’s Vincent Keymer, ranked World No. 7 with an Elo of 2759. Playing with black pieces, Tamizh stunned the 21-year-old grandmaster in the very first round.

From Sivakasi to the World Stage

Tamizh, currently World No. 1 in the Under-9 category, moved to Thiruthangal a year ago to train regularly at Hatsun Chess Academy in Sivakasi. The 350-km distance from his home in Kallakurichi was a big sacrifice for the family, but one they willingly made for his passion.


His father, Sathish Arumugam, told TOI, they returned from the academy around 6 pm when the power failed. With only 48% battery left on the laptop, they knew he could play only a few games. Yet Tamizh was determined.

“He said he would play as many games as possible till the battery died,” Sathish recalled.

Tamizh managed to play five rounds, winning three, before his laptop finally shut down.

A Proud Father and an Inspiring Son

Sathish proudly shared that beating a player of Keymer’s calibre felt incredibly rewarding. “All the hard work and effort we put in, it felt good to see that result,” he said.

When asked if he was worried during the power cut, little Tamizh replied with a smile, “No, I wasn’t worried at all", TOI reports. He then went back to watching the IPL match between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians.

Tamizh’s Remarkable Journey So Far

Tamizh started playing chess at the age of four. In the past year, he has won four silver medals and one bronze at the 27th Asian Youth Chess Championship 2025. His family has made huge sacrifices — parents taking turns to stay with him in Sivakasi so he can train without interruption.

This candlelight victory against a world-class opponent has become a powerful symbol of focus, passion, and the magic that happens when a child refuses to give up.

(With TOI inputs)