Whiz Kids: Neev and Rohan Suryawanshi

When nine-year-old student Neev Suryawanshi took an interest in the game of chess at the age of six, his parents hired a private tutor, which helped him improve his skills and eventually enter some local and nationwide competitions.

Neev's brother Rohan, who was three at the time, also took an interest in the game, but his parents thought he was too young for his own tutor. So Rohan just watched and learned as his brother practiced. Fast forward to today and Neev is ranked as the #1 fourth-grade chess player in the state, while his Rohan is ranked as the #2 first grader in the country.

Patch recently spoke with the brothers about their shared love of chess, math and baseball, although there seems to be a bit of a rivalry when it comes to their favorite MLB teams. Patch also spoke their mom Rajshri about how she helps their sons balance their busy schedules.

Patch: Hi guys! Tell me about school. What are your favorite subjects and why?

Neev: I like Math because my parents teach me at home, so I'm a little ahead. I also like writing. I like to write about sports.

Rohan: I like Math because I'm the smartest person in the classroom. I also like to read. 

Patch: What do you like to read, Rohan? And do you have a favorite part?

Rohan: I like to read about the Titanic because it's fun. I don't have a favorite part.

Patch: And what about sports? I hear you guys love baseball and play with the North Stamford Little League.

Neev: I like the teamwork. I play shortstop and pitcher.

Patch: Neev, how did you get into baseball? Do you have a favorite team?

Neev: My dad got me into baseball. I like the New York Mets.

Patch: Rohan, your brother is a fan of the New York Mets. Is that your favorite team as well?

Rohan: No, I like the Boston Red Sox.

Patch: Oh wow, I bet there's a little bit of rivalry going on in this house, huh?

Rohan: Yeah.

Patch: Have you been to Major League baseball game yet?

Neev: Yes, we went to games at Shea Stadium and Citi Field.

Patch: Neev, which did you prefer? Shea Stadium or Citi Field?

Neev: Hmmm, I like Shea Stadium.

Patch: And what do you guys love most about playing chess? And how did you start playing?

Neev: My mom taught me how to play. And I also went to this [chess] camp at the JCC. Then I got my first private coach. I like it because it calms my mind down.

Patch: And how often do you practice?

Neev: I practice twice a week if I don't have baseball practice. I also play online.

Patch: And what do you like about chess, Rohan?

Rohan: You can just focus on it. I just like chess.

Patch: And what else do you guys like to do when you're just hanging out at home?

Neev: I like to shoot some hoops and just go running for fun.

Rohan: I like to play with my dad if he gets home early. We play baseball together.

Patch: I know you both have a few years left in school, but have you thought about what you'd like to do when you grow up?

Neev: I want to be a baseball player. That has been my dream since I was little. I want to play shortstop.

Rohan: I want to be a baseball player too. I want to be a pitcher for the Red Sox.

Patch: Mom, how do you keep the boys so focused on their academics as well as their extracurricular activities?

Suryawanshi: Their lives are structured, but we make sure they do things that are fun to them, so it doesn't feel like a punishment. Like, for baseball, we send them to the . When baseball is in the forefront, we let them take a break with chess. And when the season is over, we put them back into chess. We just ask them to focus on what they doing at that point so that they can try to do the best at what they're doing.