Nine-year old prodigy from Bangladesh beats World Number 1 Carlsen in ‘bullet chess’

Dhaka, 19 Jan -A nine-year old Bangladeshi chess player, Ryan Rashid Mugdha, achieved a rare feat by beating five-time world champion Norwegian grandmaster Magnus Carlsen, one of the greatest chess players of all time, in an online chess platform held on Sunday (January 18).

 His extraordinary accomplishment, what many professional players can only dream, has taken the chess world by storm and brought immense pride to Bangladesh.

 The sensational match took place on January 18 on Chess.com, the largest online chess platform. Mugdha, a third-grader at South Point School in Dhaka, played using the account of his coach, Naim Haque, as he does not yet have his own profile or official chess title.

 Despite this, Mugdha managed to achieve what many professional players can only dream of defeating one of the greatest chess players of all time.

 The game was played in the "bullet" format, a rapid chess variation

where players have only one minute to finish their moves. This format is popular among FIDE Masters, International Masters, and Grandmasters.

 Through the platform's random pairing system, Mugdha was unexpectedly matched with Carlsen, creating an opportunity for the young talent to showcase his skills.

 Due to an accidental mouse click, Carlsen made the queen move to the wrong square, which created an opportunity for Mugdha to win.

 Mugdha is the reigning Under-10 Junior Champion of Bangladesh and represented the country in the Asian School Chess Championship held in Bangkok last December.