Nihal Sarin is a chess Grandmaster from India. He was born on July 13, 2004 in Thrissur, Kerala, India. He is considered one of the world's leading young chess talents. He has been a chess prodigy since a young age, winning the under-10 World Youth Chess Championships in 2014 and the Asian Youth Chess Championship in 2015. He became the third-youngest International Master (IM) in history in 2016.
Sarin first attracted attention at age six, when he won a state-level tournament against older competitors. He began professional training at age seven. Sarin became a FIDE Master in 2014, an International Master in 2016, and a Grandmaster in 2018, with his final norm ratified in August 2018.
Despite his youth and professional chess commitments, Sarin's parents stress the importance of a well-rounded education. He has been home-schooled since 2016. He also has interests in solving and creating chess problems. Sarin is known for his aggressive style of play, ability to play quickly under pressure, and endgame technique. His overall approach to the game and ability to analyze and adapt have been singled out as his key strengths.