India's 99th Chess Grandmaster Perseveres After 5-Year Quest

After nearly five years of falling just short, V.S. Rathanvel finally achieved his dream of becoming a chess Grandmaster, making him India's 99th player to reach the prestigious milestone.

The 25-year-old from Coimbatore completed his three GM norms back in 2022, but the final hurdle kept slipping away. He needed to cross the 2500 Elo rating mark, and despite coming agonizingly close multiple times, the achievement remained out of reach until this month at the Guwahati Smart City International Open 2026.

"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. The repeated near-misses took their toll, turning what should have been a celebration into a test of mental resilience.

A World Youth U-10 bronze medalist, Rathanvel started playing chess at age six at the Kovai Kids Chess Academy. He's been one of India's strongest International Masters for years, training with top Grandmasters and competing across Europe while teaching students online.

Though he holds a mechanical engineering degree, Rathanvel now dedicates himself fully to professional chess. His parents run a wedding card printing business in Coimbatore, supporting his journey through India's highly competitive chess scene.

Why This Inspires

Rathanvel's story shows that the final step can sometimes be the longest. Five years of coming close and falling short would break many athletes, but he kept showing up to tournaments, kept believing, and kept improving.

Now that the pressure of reaching 2500 is behind him, Rathanvel says everything changes. "I'll be able to play stress-free and probably a bit more relaxed. I think that will help me perform better," he explained.

His achievement puts India on the brink of history. The country now stands just one Grandmaster away from joining an elite group of nations with 100 or more GMs, a testament to India's explosive growth in chess over the past two decades.

"By September, I'll start planning the major events I want to play," Rathanvel said. With the rating milestone behind him, he can finally focus on invitations to stronger tournaments and climbing even higher in the chess world.

Sometimes the sweetest victories are the ones you have to chase the longest.