Archive · 27 Aug 2026
15-Year-Old Indian Player Beats Magnus Carlsen, Then Sleeps
Vandan Alankar Sawai is a 15-year-old chess player from Delhi, India.
He played Magnus Carlsen in an online blitz tournament.
Carlsen is one of the world's best chess players.
Vandan won their game in 50 moves.
He was playing with the white pieces and used his usual opening move, e4.
Carlsen made a mistake, which helped Vandan win material and control the game.
Vandan did not celebrate loudly or tell his family right away.
He played two more games and then went to sleep because he was tired.
His father found out about the surprising win the next day.
Vandan Alankar Sawai, also identified as Andan in one article, defeated Magnus Carlsen in an online blitz game.
The upset occurred on August 18 during Chess.com's Titled Tuesday tournament.
Sawai won in 50 moves despite having a FIDE Classical Rating of 2,288 compared with Carlsen's 2,823.
After the game, Sawai played two more rounds and finished with three wins and one defeat.
Sawai's father discovered the result the next day after checking Chess.com; the teenager had gone straight to sleep.
- Who
- 15-year-old Indian chess player Vandan Alankar Sawai, also called Andan in one article, defeated Magnus Carlsen.
- What
- Sawai won an online five-minute blitz game against Carlsen in 50 moves.
- When
- August 18; the articles do not specify the year.
- Where
- Online, during Chess.com's Titled Tuesday tournament; Sawai is from Delhi, India.
- Why
- Sawai said he entered the game feeling he had nothing to lose and chose to play a comfortable game; Carlsen later made a mistake that helped Sawai gain material.
- Winner
- Vandan Alankar Sawai, identified as Andan in one article
- Age
- 15
- Opponent
- Magnus Carlsen
- Event
- Chess.com's Titled Tuesday
- Game format
- Online five-minute blitz chess
- Game result
- Sawai won in 50 moves
- Classical ratings
- Sawai: 2,288; Carlsen: 2,823
- Tournament record
- Three wins and one defeat across four games
