India Gets 99th Chess Grandmaster, One Away From Historic 100

VS Rathanvel has become India's 99th chess grandmaster, pushing the country to the brink of a milestone only decades in the making.

The 25-year-old mechanical engineer from Coimbatore crossed the crucial 2500 Elo rating mark at the Guwahati Smart City International Open 2026. He had already earned his three grandmaster norms back in 2022, but the final rating requirement became a four-year mental battle.

"I came very close on multiple occasions, so it becomes very depressing because chess is a mental sport and you suddenly start doubting yourself," Rathanvel told PTI. Each near-miss chipped away at his confidence in a game where mental strength matters as much as strategy.

The wait is finally over. Rathanvel, who started playing chess at age six at the Kovai Kids Chess Academy, can now compete without the crushing pressure of chasing a number.

"I'll be able to play stress-free and probably a bit more relaxed," he said. "I think that will help me perform better."

His achievement carries extra meaning for his hometown. Coimbatore was where India's first grandmaster, the legendary Viswanathan Anand, earned his title in 1987 at the Shakti Finance International chess tournament. Now, 39 years later, the city has produced grandmaster number 99.

Why This Inspires

Rathanvel's story proves that talent alone doesn't guarantee success. He won bronze at the World Youth U10 championship and spent years as one of India's strongest International Masters. But the final step required something harder than skill: the ability to keep believing after repeated disappointment.

While his parents run a wedding card printing business in Coimbatore, Rathanvel trains independently, competes in European leagues, and coaches students online. He's fully committed to professional chess now, planning to secure invitations to stronger tournaments by September.

All India Chess Federation president Nitin Narang celebrated the moment, noting that India stands just one grandmaster away from 100. When that happens, it will cap a remarkable rise for Indian chess from Anand's solo achievement to a three-digit army of grandmasters in less than four decades.

For Rathanvel, the pressure is off and the real chess can finally begin.