Sahib Singh: India’s first Sikh chess IM

Sixteen-year-old Sahib Singh has made history by becoming the first Sikh player to earn the International Master (IM) title in chess.

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Born and raised in New Delhi, he has connection with Chandigarh — the city beautiful — as the family has an ancestral house at Sector 20. Sahib’s fascination with chess began at home, where he watched his father Tajinder Singh and elder brother play casually. He turned out to be sharp and made an immediate mark when his school introduced chess classes. Recognising his potential, his coach Arbaaz Singh encouraged his family to support his budding talent.

“Arbaaz Sir called me after observing the growth of Sahib, who was just seven years old then. The coach said he is an exceptional talent and the family should prepare for serious coaching and regular participation in tournaments,” Tajinder told The Tribune.

Tajinder, who runs a footwear shop at Karol Bagh, said the journey to this stage was time-consuming and financially tough but somehow, even without sponsors, they pulled through.

“My father never let me get distracted from chess practice and competitions by the problems of shop management and financial issues he faced,” Sahib said in an interview with chessbase.com.

Sahib quickly made a name for himself in local tournaments, securing second place in the Delhi State U-9 Championship. His early victories laid the foundation for a remarkable career that would soon take him to the international stage.

Sahib’s journey to the IM title was anything but easy. He came close to achieving the title multiple times but narrowly missed his final IM norm on several occasions. However, his persistence paid off when he secured his third and final IM norm at the Dubai Open 2025, officially earning the IM title.

His first IM norm came at the Rudar GM Tournament at Pozarevac, Serbia, in November 2023, followed by his second norm at the Priaeus GM Tournament in Greece in May 2024. Notably, he also secured his first Grandmaster norm in the same tournament, signalling his potential to reach the GM level soon.

Sahib has consistently made India proud with his performances. One of his standout moments was his triple gold victory at the Western Asia Youth Chess Championship in 2022, where he dominated across classical, rapid and blitz formats.

Harmeet Singh Kalka, president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), said, “His success has inspired young chess players, particularly within the Sikh community, proving that dedication and hard work can break barriers. His achievement as the first Sikh International Master is a landmark moment in Indian chess history.”

With his IM title secured, Sahib now sets his sights on becoming a GM. His rapid progress and determination suggest that it won’t be long before he reaches this next milestone.