NEW DELHI: As India moves one step closer to the landmark of producing 100 Grandmasters, Chennai, long hailed as the “Mecca of Indian chess”, has found itself as the protagonist again.On Sunday, Harshavardhan GB became India’s 97th Grandmaster (GM) from the very land. Pulling off three wins and one draw in his last four games to finish second with 6.5/9 points at the 2nd Chola Chess GM Norm Round Robin Tournament, he secured the third and final GM norm.The moment the draw was confirmed in his final-round game against veteran Mihail Nikitenko, Harshavardhan was showered with congratulations from fellow players and tournament organisers. But after a few handshakes, the 22-year-old rushed outside to the waiting area, where he met an elated mother trying to hold off her tears while congratulating her son and getting congratulations from other parents waiting in the hall.It was a wholesome moment for the family, but for Harshavardhan, it was, above all, a moment of immense relief. Why? Because the wait had been a long one. Harshavardhan had earned his International Master (IM) title back in 2020 and had spent the next six years chasing the coveted GM title.“I’m feeling relieved, first of all, on finally completing it,” Harshavardhan told TimesofIndia.com during an exclusive conversation. “And one more good thing for me is that I took my IM title in Chennai, the last norm. Now, doing my GM title here is also special.”
A Grandmaster now, the pride of his parents
The emotional scenes outside the playing hall were mirrored back home by Harshavardhan’s father, Gopalakrishnan K, a respected FIDE trainer and former highly-rated competitive player who once spearheaded the Indian Bank chess team.For a father who spent years training other elite players, seeing his own son cross the ultimate threshold was an indescribable milestone.“No words can explain his happiness. He is extremely happy,” Harshavardhan shared. “He wanted to come (to the venue) immediately after that (GM norm was secured). He was very excited to be there.”The victory was equally a tribute to his mother, who served as his regular travelling companion for the majority of his career.“She used to accompany me until like the last three years for every single tournament,” Harshavardhan recalled.
Harshavardhan GB with his mother (Photo by @CholaChess on X)
Though logistics and health considerations meant he transitioned to travelling alone over the last two to three years, her maternal oversight never wavered.“Even when I travel alone, she makes sure that she takes care of everything,” he added with a smile.
The origins of a Grandmaster
Harshavardhan’s introduction to the chessboard happened entirely within the cosy confines of his family home.By the time he was around three or four years old, his father was regularly hosting training sessions for visiting International Masters and Grandmasters.“They used to attend classes at my home. At that age, I just used to watch them,” Harshavardhan said. “Then at some time, like around four, I picked up interest and started playing.”
Harshavardhan GB secures final GM norm (Photo by @CholaChess on X)
Recognising the boy’s rapid affinity for the game, his father turned to his close friend and Indian Bank teammate, FM Hariharan Venkatachalam, to handle the foundational coaching phases in Anna Nagar, Chennai.Hariharan was instantly struck by the left-handed boy’s raw potential.“He was a very bright student, very fast, and in calculation,” Hariharan told this website. “In his early years, he showed his interest. He was very good at tactics initially. He was left-handed, so I thought he would be very good at something special.”
A ‘legend’ among friends
As Harshavardhan rose through the ranks, his sharp tactical eye and unorthodox analytical ideas earned him an affectionate moniker among his training peers.“We used to play training games at that time when we were attending classes,” Harshavardhan explained with a smile. “I don’t remember whether I was doing a lot better there, or I came up with some very creative ideas while doing those analyses. So that’s somehow how that name got picked up, and then it started.”His friends simply called him a “legend”.That reputation was backed by an incredibly consistent junior career. He won a bronze medal at the Asian Schools in 2012, a bronze at the Asian Youth in 2015, and a silver for problem-solving at the 2016 Asian Championships.Domestically, he dominated the circuit, winning state championships in almost every age category from under-9 all the way to under-19. He later added a FIDE World Youth Online Under-18 gold in 2021, an Asian Juniors gold in 2022, and even qualified for the FIDE World Cup.After his initial years with Hariharan, Harshavardhan worked closely with the veteran coach Visweswaran Kameswaran until 2022, before transitioning to Grandmaster Deepan Chakkravarthy in 2024.“They have been really supportive, my coaches,” he emphasised.
When talent alone was not enough
Despite coming from a chess-centric household, the path to the Grandmaster title exposed Harshavardhan to severe professional hurdles. Having a FIDE trainer as a father provided a clear roadmap, but it could not shield him from the psychological weight of the sport.“You might know what is coming, but you cannot stop what is coming,” Harshavardhan reflected. “You can say that you know you might have to face this, but you cannot avoid facing the challenges.”The most testing phase occurred during his agonisingly long pursuit of the final GM norm after 2020. He suffered a heartbreaking string of near-misses across the globe.“I missed a GM norm in like 10 to 15 tournaments very easily. It will be either the technical part, or I miss by half a point,” he added.
Harshavardhan GB (Photo by ChessBase India)
The practical difficulties of international travel also took a toll. During an event in Kazakhstan, severe flight delays left him completely stranded for two days.Furthermore, maintaining a strict vegetarian diet in foreign countries became a constant logistical struggle.Compounding these challenges was the absolute lack of financial backing. Harshavardhan navigated the expensive international circuit without a primary corporate sponsor.“I was never in a scholarship, I was never in a sponsorship. I had a scholarship from the Airports Authority for some time, but right now I’m not in anything,” he revealed.The financial burden fell entirely on his small nuclear family. “Every single time you travel, you spend a lot. Not on something you don’t need, but just for tournaments and accommodation, the prices are high.”
Looking to the future
After completing his Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce (B.Com) in 2024, Harshavardhan made the conscious decision to dedicate himself entirely to chess as a full-time career.Now that the burden of the Grandmaster title has lifted, his sights are set on the highest tier of global chess.“My only thing I’m just hoping is to get to 2600, 2700. Like, become a super GM,” Harshavardhan concluded.