Harikrishnan A Ra has officially become India’s 87th chess Grandmaster, achieving the sport’s highest title after years of dedicated effort.
A Grand Achievement
The Chennai-based player secured his final Grandmaster (GM) norm at the La Plagne International Chess Festival in France. He clinched the title with a crucial draw against fellow Indian GM P. Iniyan.
This achievement marks the culmination of a journey that began in 2018 when he first started chasing the GM title. He earned his first norm years ago, followed by the second at the Andujar Open in Spain, and the third and final one in France.
A Unique Playing Style
Harikrishnan’s path to GM status involved an intense and unconventional schedule. He recently completed a streak of seven consecutive tournaments outside India and plans for three more before returning home.
Unlike many players who take breaks to recover, he thrives on this relentless pace. “If I plan to play in just two or three tournaments, usually it’s going to be bad,” he explained, noting he often finds his best flow after a few events.
The Global Grind
His recent “crazy months” began in Dubai in May. From there, he travelled to Croatia for a couple of events, then Russia for the Asian League Teams Championship, where his Airports Authority of India Team won bronze.
A quick stop in Spain secured his second GM norm, before the final push in France for his third. His travel schedule continues, with immediate plans for more tournaments in Spain and Portugal.
Coach’s Pride and Future Focus
One of Harikrishnan’s first calls after securing the norm was to his coach, GM Shyamsundar Mohanraj, who runs Chess Thulir in Chennai. Mohanraj also coached India’s 86th GM, Srihari LR.
His coach often hears ambitious goals from Harikrishnan, whether it’s becoming a GM or reaching a specific rating. Mohanraj expected Harikrishnan to consider returning home after achieving the GM title, but instead, the 24-year-old immediately outlined his next three tournaments.
“That made me very proud,” Mohanraj shared, emphasizing Harikrishnan’s singular devotion to the game. He noted that Harikrishnan has few distractions, even recently swearing off social media to maintain his focus.
Next Steps
With the GM title now secured, the focus shifts. Coach Mohanraj has advised Harikrishnan to use his new status to experiment with different playing styles in upcoming tournaments, continuing his evolution as a top chess player.
Harikrishnan A Ra has officially become India’s 87th chess Grandmaster, achieving the sport’s highest title after years of dedicated effort.
A Grand Achievement
The Chennai-based player secured his final Grandmaster (GM) norm at the La Plagne International Chess Festival in France. He clinched the title with a crucial draw against fellow Indian GM P. Iniyan.
This achievement marks the culmination of a journey that began in 2018 when he first started chasing the GM title. He earned his first norm years ago, followed by the second at the Andujar Open in Spain, and the third and final one in France.
A Unique Playing Style
Harikrishnan’s path to GM status involved an intense and unconventional schedule. He recently completed a streak of seven consecutive tournaments outside India and plans for three more before returning home.
Unlike many players who take breaks to recover, he thrives on this relentless pace. “If I plan to play in just two or three tournaments, usually it’s going to be bad,” he explained, noting he often finds his best flow after a few events.
The Global Grind
His recent “crazy months” began in Dubai in May. From there, he travelled to Croatia for a couple of events, then Russia for the Asian League Teams Championship, where his Airports Authority of India Team won bronze.
A quick stop in Spain secured his second GM norm, before the final push in France for his third. His travel schedule continues, with immediate plans for more tournaments in Spain and Portugal.
Coach’s Pride and Future Focus
One of Harikrishnan’s first calls after securing the norm was to his coach, GM Shyamsundar Mohanraj, who runs Chess Thulir in Chennai. Mohanraj also coached India’s 86th GM, Srihari LR.
His coach often hears ambitious goals from Harikrishnan, whether it’s becoming a GM or reaching a specific rating. Mohanraj expected Harikrishnan to consider returning home after achieving the GM title, but instead, the 24-year-old immediately outlined his next three tournaments.
“That made me very proud,” Mohanraj shared, emphasizing Harikrishnan’s singular devotion to the game. He noted that Harikrishnan has few distractions, even recently swearing off social media to maintain his focus.
Next Steps
With the GM title now secured, the focus shifts. Coach Mohanraj has advised Harikrishnan to use his new status to experiment with different playing styles in upcoming tournaments, continuing his evolution as a top chess player.
