A 15-year-old chess player from Delhi, Vandan Alankar Sawai, pulled off a stunning upset when he defeated world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen in an online chess tournament. Vandan, a Candidate Master with a FIDE classical rating of 2,288, beat Carlsen, who has a rating of 2,823, in 50 moves during Chess.com’s weekly Titled Tuesday tournament on August 18.The teenager did not make a big announcement after the game. His parents only discovered the result when his father, former banker Alankar Sawai, checked Chess.com and found that Vandan had defeated the Norwegian chess legend.Vandan Was Reluctant to Play the TournamentVandan’s mother, Dr Madhuri Alankar Sawai, said the teenager had initially been hesitant about participating in the event. “My husband and I were at home when Vandan came and said he had played the tournament,” Vandan's mother, Dr Madhuri Alankar Sawai, told the media. “When my husband asked, only then did Vandan say he had played against Carlsen and won. Vandan was reluctant to participate in the event. We forced him to play.”The unexpected decision turned into the biggest victory of Vandan’s young chess career.‘I Had Nothing to Lose’Vandan was paired against Carlsen in the second round of the five-minute blitz tournament. Rather than being intimidated by his opponent’s reputation, the teenager approached the game calmly. “I didn't have anything to lose and everything to gain. I decided to play a comfortable game and opened with my usual pawn move e4 while playing with white pieces,” he says.The game developed into a Giuoco Piano after Carlsen responded with e5. Vandan managed his time effectively and gradually put pressure on the world No. 1.A key moment came on move 26, when Carlsen’s king came under attack from Vandan’s bishop. Instead of taking the bishop, Carlsen moved his king, allowing Vandan to gain material.The position eventually transitioned into an endgame, where Vandan maintained control. Carlsen resigned on move 50.“I was shocked when he blundered,” Vandan says.A Quiet Reaction to a Historic WinDespite defeating one of the greatest chess players in history, Vandan remained remarkably composed. His coach, Gurpreet Pal Singh, described him as a reserved teenager who tends to speak precisely.“Like all other young kids, he too is an aggressive player,” Singh says. “He is a person of few words. He is not shy, but reserved.”Vandan went on to play two more rounds after defeating Carlsen and finished his four-round run with three wins and one loss before stopping because he was tired.How Vandan Started Playing ChessVandan’s journey into chess began at home. His mother had played chess with her brother when she was younger and introduced the game to her son.“In my younger days, I played chess with my brother. So, I taught Vandan the game. He picked it up fast and started solving puzzles like mate in one/two moves,” Dr Madhuri says.Recognising his potential, the family later enrolled him for structured coaching under Gurpreet Pal Singh, who has trained him for around seven years.“We put him under Coach Gurpreet about seven years ago as a dedicated person is needed to nurture the talent further,” she adds.Chess Champion and Class TopperBeyond chess, Vandan is also a class topper who continues to balance academics with his training and competitions.Interestingly, his interests extend beyond the chessboard. He enjoys reading books about wars and has a strong interest in history. He is also considering political science as a possible academic direction.Vandan Is Not Sure About Chess as a CareerDespite his remarkable victory over Carlsen, Vandan has not yet decided whether he wants to pursue chess professionally. His immediate goal is to earn the International Master (IM) title, but he is keeping his future options open.“I am not sure whether chess will be my full time profession in the future as at this age players have become GMs. Perhaps I will look at history and somewhat towards political science,” Vandan says.For now, the 15-year-old appears focused on continuing his chess journey while balancing his studies and exploring his other interests. His victory over Carlsen may be a major milestone, but Vandan seems in no hurry to decide where his next move will take him.[With TOI inputs]