Chess: Six-year-old Mumbai girl becomes Woman Candidate Master

Suhaani Lohia

Suhaani Lohia, one of the youngest chess star that the country has seen, all at the age of six, apart from winning bronze for the country, has now become the only girl to claim the Women's Candidate Master title from Mumbai, at the Asian School Chess Championship held in Tehran, Iran.

Suhaani Lohia

Suhaani started playing chess two years back but had a real breakthrough last year when she came second in the National Level chess championship in the country and then again acquiring the second position in the Nationals held in Nagpur, in January this year, under the mentorship of coach Balaji Guttula, of the South Mumbai Chess Academy.

"We are of course delighted with the win. Over 17 countries all over Asia participated in the tournament and Suhaani shone through," said Suhaani's father, Sushir Lohia.

He added: "These games last for 2-3 hours. And she's just a child, so I'm extremely proud of her. She immediately called me after the win and said 'I'm so happy Papa, so excited for the title.'"

In the classical format of chess, all the winners (Gold, silver and Bronze) are awarded with a title. In Suhaani's case, she was awarded the Women's Candidate Master title.
Little Suhaani, who will be going to class 1st this year, has always been an intuitive child.

"Neither my wife nor me have been interested in Chess, I don't know where my kids get this from but looking at their passion, we went ahead with the process," said Sushir.

"We never pushed our kids into chess. Suhaani asked for coaching herself. So looking back and looking at the present, we feel blessed."