Nara Lokesh’s son Devaansh awarded by World Book of Records for Chess record in London

Minister Nara Lokesh attends award ceremong, says, ‘very proud, truly special achievement’

Ten-year-old chess prodigy Nara Devaansh, on Saturday, was awarded the prestigious World Book of Records Awards 2025 Ceremony held at Westminster Hall, London, for his remarkable achievement of setting the world record for the “Fastest Checkmate Solver – 175 Puzzles.”

In a milestone achievement, Devaansh last year had solved 175 progressively challenging checkmate puzzles taken from the renowned compilation 5334 Problems, Combinations, and Games by László Polgár, at the “Checkmate Marathon.”
These puzzles get more and more difficult as they go on, testing speed, accuracy, and thinking skills and he was able to solve all of them within a tight timeframe.

The World Book of Records rewarded the child prodigy on Saturday for this feat, placing him among the finest young talents on the global stage in the chess world. His achievement is the result of months of focused preparation, supported by his parents, Mrs. Nara Brahmani and Mr. Nara Lokesh, and guided by his coach Mr. K Rajashekar Reddy.

Speaking of the achievement, Minister Nara Lokesh said, “It’s truly a special occasion to see Devaansh receive this honour at Westminster Hall today. His ability to think ahead, stay calm under pressure, and devote himself so wholeheartedly to the game at just ten years old makes this achievement even more special. As his father, I have witnessed the countless hours he has spent practicing with dedication. This recognition is a true reward for his hard work. We are very proud of him.”

Alongside this feat, Devaansh had also set two additional world records earlier in the chess domain, completing the 7-disc Tower of Hanoi in just 1 minute 43 seconds and arranging 9 chess boards with all 32 pieces correctly in 5 minutes. His recognition at today’s awards ceremony in London is a proud moment for his family and for India’s growing legacy in global chess.