He was born exactly 50 years after Garry Kasparov! How 13-year-old Maths Olympiad genius Plogetee Bordoloi became India’s only World Youth Chess medalist

Follow Bordoloi to become India’s only medalist in World Youth Chess NEW DELHI: Last week, 13-year-old FIDE champion (WFM) Flegete Bordoloi created history for India in Montesilvano, Italy. Competing in the 2026 FIDE World Youth Chess Championship, the youngster from Bengaluru bagged a silver medal in the girls’ under-18 category.Entering as the 16th seed with a FIDE rating of 2129, the Shishya BEML Public School student produced a sensational unbeaten campaign, picking up 9 points from 11 rounds against players up to five years her senior.India fielded 13 players in six sections, but Flögetee came home as the country’s lone medalist, securing her first WIM norm and earning over 129 Elo points. Behind this historic podium finish lies a fascinating duality and perhaps the story of a quiet, introverted teenager who treats chess endings like mathematical equations, balances all areas of life and shares a miraculous birthday with a chess legend.

The Kasparian connection

Ploegee was born on April 13, 2013, exactly 50 years after the legendary Garry Kasparov, who was born on April 13, 1963. In addition to sharing a birthday, her coach, Grandmaster Pravin Thipsay, notes striking tactical similarities.“Some of the traits I see. Even in a bad state in a tournament where she is behind by a point or something, she plans it well to try to beat so that she can be on top,” Thipsay said during an exclusive interaction with TimesofIndia.com.

Six-time world chess champion Garry Kasparov

However, Thipsay stresses that Pratitee is far from a one-dimensional athlete, adding: “Pratitee is not exactly a chess player. He is a mathematical wizard and comes first in all exams.”Her mother, Pranti Dutta Bordoloi, recalls how her daughter’s journey unfolded organically during the COVID-19 pandemic.With no rigorous formal training, 9-year-old Fligotee shocked everyone by winning the 2022 Karnataka State Championship, followed by the under-9 national title in Indore six months later.“She was still very good at calculations, at math,” Panti told the site. “She gave math olympiad from 1 and won a gold medal at SOF IMO. At the time I was the only one who thought she should be good at chess because she is good at math olympiad.”Despite her rapid rise, her family remains deeply committed to life on the land. “Honestly, we’re not the kind of people who ‘leave everything for chess’. Our first priority is always study. Not at the cost of studying, because in the end you have to get an education, otherwise life won’t be balanced.”

Focus on independent thinking

“Compared to his age group, he is much more mature as a person and the logic base is very high,” Thipsay noted. “When you tell her something is good or bad, she’s not going to blindly accept it. She asks until she’s satisfied, and that persistence is very important.”This analytical mindset makes her a rare commodity in junior chess. “She’s one of the few players who doesn’t get bored of studying finishes or figuring out exact moves because she finds it very logical. Mathematically, she’s very sound,” the grandmaster added.During last year’s Cadets’ World Cup, where Flégete secured gold in the girls’ under-12 category, she established a unique system with Thipsay. She preferred to rest immediately after matches and wait for the tournament pairings to be announced late at night.

Watch current Bordoloi coach Pravin Thipsay (PTI Photo)

“After the pairing was outside, which is about nine hours, which means 10:30 p.m. Indian time, she said, ‘I want to have an hour or an hour and a half,’ and we studied,” Thipsay revealed. “She is so thorough in her preparation…she wants to learn everything about the position.This hyper-focus allows her to think independently of the board. “Dr. Lasker (Emanuel Lasker) said that a coach’s duty is to teach students to think independently. She has that,” Thipsay said.

Keep the pieces grounded

Despite the growing interest, Flégotee maintains a strict personal discipline, balancing a 9- to 10-hour sleep cycle with physical training using a punching bag and cycling.Her mother holds a PhD in Artificial Intelligence from Christ University and her father works at a leading IT company, Flögtie was raised to ensure that competitive ruthlessness remained confined to the chessboard.

Follow Bordoloi at the FIDE Youth Chess Championship (special arrangement)

“I always told her that if you won too, just don’t show your happiness in front of your opponent because they must be feeling very horrible at that moment,” Panti said.READ ALSO: The Making of India’s 97th Chess Grandmaster Harshavardhan GB: A ‘Legend’ Among Friends, Now the Pride of His ParentsDuring a recent media interaction, the 13-year-old was asked about her future. “She gave two answers,” her mother recalled proudly. “One was, ‘I want to be world champion.’ And the second time she beautifully said: ‘I just want to play well’.”