Chennai’s Harshavardhan Becomes India’s 97th Chess Grandmaster Harshavardhan GB, a 23-year-old chess player from Chennai, has achieved a significant milestone by becoming India’s 97th Grandmaster (GM). The accomplishment was secured during the second Chola Chess International GM Norm Round Robin Tournament, held in his hometown. Harshavardhan remained unbeaten throughout the event, earning his third and final norm to cross the required 2500 Elo rating threshold. This achievement marks a major breakthrough in Indian chess history, highlighting the growing talent and competitiveness of the country’s players on the global stage. The tournament, which served as a critical platform for Harshavardhan to clinch his GM title, saw him finish in second place with 6.5 points. His performance was exceptional, with a rating of 2620 during the competition, which contributed to a 15.3 Elo point gain. This surge in rating allowed him to surpass the 2500 mark, a benchmark set by FIDE (the World Chess Federation) for the GM title. Harshavardhan’s consistency and strategic prowess were evident as he secured four wins and five draws, demonstrating his ability to adapt to varying challenges in high-stakes matches. Harshavardhan’s journey to becoming a Grandmaster is not new. Last year, he achieved his second GM norm at the Asian Continental Championship in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where he finished in ninth place. His performance rating of 2634 during that event was a strong indicator of his potential, and it earned him a spot in the FIDE World Cup in Goa. However, his World Cup campaign was cut short after a loss to Turkish GM Yilmaz Mustafa in the opening round, with a score of 0.5-1.5.#chennai #harshavardhan_gb #chola_chess_international #fide_world_chess_federation #mohammed_kushagra
