16-year old Shivika Rohilla, Chess player from Delhi, currently holds the Women FIDE Masters title and is ranked 4th in U-16 in India.
Almost 10 years back, Shivika Rohilla was handed a Chess board by her mother as an effort to channelize her energy through a sport that would also help to fine tune her intelligence. “I used to watch a lot of television at that age. So my mom thought instead of sitting in front of the television, let us make her sit in front of the board,” Shivika told.
That is how Chess started for Shivika Rohilla. She gradually began to take a lot of interest in Chess and now, at the age of 16, she has emerged as one of the most promising Chess players in India. With ELO rating of 2122, Shivika, the young Chess player, is now placed 4th in U-16 India rank and 7th in U-16 Asia rank. She even holds the Women’s FIDE Masters title– the third-highest ranking given by FIDE exclusive to women.
As a Chess player, Shivika considers her turning point to be in 2017 when she played U-10 World Youth Championships. The tournament gave her a whole new perspective about the world of international Chess. As Shivika said, “It was a completely different world for me. Everything was so organized, so formulated.”
Shivika’s parents are extremely satisfied with the way she has progressed. Remembering the initial days her mother, Dr Nidhi said, “It wasn’t easy giving up my corporate career, especially when I was at the top. I remember leaving my other daughter, who was then 4 years old, only to follow Shivi. We also faced a lot of financial issues but we kept pushing ourselves. But it’s all good now. We are much stronger emotionally than before.”
With various Best Women Awards in international events in 2023, Shivika is consistently rising in her career. Her excellence goes beyond her exceptional Chess skills. A scholar badge holder, Shivika scored 97% in her Class X board examinations. Striking a perfect balance between academics and sport, Shivika Rohilla wants to pursue medical science in future. Along with that, with immense dedication and hardwork, she aims to reach greater heights in the sport of Chess.
