In a remarkable underdog story, India’s Team MGD1 clinched the 2025 FIDE World Rapid Team Chess Championship in London, with the spotlight firmly on Atharvaa P Tayade, a 24-year-old MBA student from IIM-Calcutta and a self-described “recreational” chess player. Tayade’s stunning performance—11 wins in 12 rounds—played a pivotal role in India’s historic triumph, making him the breakout star of the tournament.
From Campus to Chess Glory
Tayade, who had stepped away from competitive chess in 2015 to pursue academics, was handpicked by team captain N. Srinath to fulfill the tournament’s requirement for a “recreational player”—someone with no FIDE rating above 2000. Despite his modest official rating of 1952, Tayade’s online prowess and sharp instincts made him a formidable force on the board.
“I knew I was strong, but I didn’t expect to perform this well,” said Tayade, who is also an IIT-Bombay alumnus. He had been preparing for a summer internship at Standard Chartered when the unexpected invitation arrived via Chess.com.
Beating the Best
Tayade’s unbeaten streak until the final round included victories over seasoned players like Wadim Rosenstein and rising prodigies such as Sarbartho Mani. His performance was so dominant that even star teammates like Arjun Erigaisi and Pentala Harikrishna took a backseat in the headlines.
Erigaisi, now India’s second 2800+ rated player after Viswanathan Anand, recalled losing to Tayade in a 2012 tournament: “I didn’t remember the game until now, but it’s funny how things come full circle.”
A Historic Win for India
Team MGD1, managed by a Pune-based chess firm, became the first Indian team to win the World Rapid Team Championship since its inception. The team’s final victory over Malcolm’s Mates sealed the title, with Tayade’s contributions proving decisive.
The Bigger Picture
Tayade’s story is a testament to the depth of chess talent in India and the power of second chances. While many of his peers became grandmasters, he chose academics—only to return and conquer the world stage. His journey has earned him comparisons to China’s Pang Bo, another amateur who stunned the chess world in 2024.
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