I’ve never seen anything like this. This child is a genius.
Russian toddler Mikhail “Misha” Osipov went on television aged three to play against Anatoly Karpov, grandmaster and world champion from 1975 to 1985, playing the part of a kindly chess grandfather amazed by the child’s abilities.
As you’ll see in the video, young Misha held up incredibly well considering the lights, live audience and being on the clock for each move. Ultimately he loses the contest after running down on time, causing him to cry and call for his mother. He was three-years-old, after all.
My dad taught me to play chess when I was perhaps eight. I remember watching Searching for Bobby Fischer, the movie where the American chess prodigy is calling out moves from a bath tub without seeing the board.
I played on the “chess team” in primary school as a way of getting out of class, going to other schools to play against kids. I signed up for anything to get out of class.
I’ve never been an advanced player by any means, and watching what Misha can do is extraordinary.
Teaching your kids to play games like chess is tremendous for growing their mental abilities. It develops creative thinking and strategy while exposing them to defeat and adversity. Which is good, they’ll never have a chance against Misha.
