NEW DELHI: As India moves one step closer to the milestone of producing 100 chess grandmasters, Chennai, long known as the ‘mecca of chess in India’, is once again in the spotlight.Harshavardhan GB became India’s 97th Grand Master (GM) on Sunday. In the 2nd Chola Chess GM Standard round robin, he achieved 3 wins and 1 draw in the past four games, finishing second with 6.5/9 points and earning the third and final GM standard.In his final round match against veteran Mikhail Nikitenko, Harshavardhan was congratulated by other players and tournament organizers when the draw was confirmed. But after a few handshakes, the 22-year-old rushed outside to the waiting area, where he was met by an elated mother who, fighting back tears, congratulated her son and was greeted by other parents waiting in the hall.It was a healthy moment for the family, but first and foremost it was a moment of huge relief for Harshavardhan. Why? Because the wait is long. Harshavardhan bagged the International Master (IM) title back in 2020 and spent the next six years chasing the coveted GM title.“First of all, I feel relieved that I have finally completed it,” Harshavardhan told TOI in an exclusive conversation. “Another good thing for me is that I got the IM title in Chennai, which is the final criterion. Now, getting the GM title here is also special.”
Now he has become a master, the pride of his parents
Harshavardhan’s father Gopalakrishnan K also reflected on the emotional scene outside the match hall. Gopalakrishnan K is a respected FIDE coach and a highly regarded former chess player who was the leader of the Bank of India chess team.For a father who has spent years coaching other elite players, seeing his son cross the ultimate threshold is an indescribable milestone.“No words can explain his happiness. He was extremely happy,” Harshavardhan shared. “He wanted to be (on site) right after that (general manager norm was guaranteed). He was excited to be there.”The win is also a tribute to his mother, who has been his regular traveling companion for much of his career.“She was with me in every game for the last three years,” Harshavardhan recalled.
Harshavardhan GB and his mother (Photo by @CholaChess on X)
Although logistical and health considerations meant he began traveling alone over the past two or three years, her mother’s supervision never wavered.“Even when I’m traveling alone, she makes sure everything is taken care of,” he adds with a smile.
The origin of the master
Harshavardhan’s introduction to the chessboard came entirely from the comfort of his home.When he was about three or four, his father held regular training sessions for visiting international masters and grandmasters.“They used to have classes at my house. At that age, I just watched them,” Harshavardhan said. “Then at some point, like around four o’clock, I started getting interested and started playing.”
Harshavardhan GB ensuring final GM specifications (Photo by @CholaChess on X)
Recognizing the boy’s keen interest in the sport, his father asked his close friend and India Bank teammate, FM Hariharan Venkatachalam, to handle the basic coaching phase at Anna Nagar in Chennai.Hariharan was immediately struck by the left-handed boy’s raw potential.“He was a very bright student, very fast and very capable in calculations,” Hariharan told SciDev.Net. “He showed his interest early on. He was really good at tactics initially. He’s left-handed, so I think he’s going to be really good at something special.”
“Legend” among friends
As Harshavardhan rose through the ranks, his keen tactical eye and unorthodox analytical mind earned him an affectionate nickname among his training peers.“We used to play training games during class,” Harshavardhan explained with a smile. “I don’t remember if I did better there or if I came up with some really creative ideas while doing these analyses. So that’s where the name came from, and then it just started.”His friends called him a “legend.”That reputation was backed up by an incredibly solid junior career. He won a bronze medal at the 2012 Asian Schools Championship, a bronze medal at the 2015 Asian Youth Championship, and a silver medal in Problem Solving at the 2016 Asian Championships.At home, he dominated the circuit, winning state titles in nearly every age group from under-9s to under-19s. He subsequently won the FIDE World Youth Online Under-18 gold medal in 2021 and the Asian Youth Championship gold medal in 2022, and even qualified for the FIDE World Cup.After initially working with Hariharan for a few years, Harshavardhan worked closely with veteran coach Visweswaran Kameswaran till 2022 before switching over to master Deepan Chakkravarthy in 2024.“They were really supportive of me, my coach,” he stressed.
When talent alone isn’t enough
Despite coming from a chess-centric family, Harshavardhan faced serious career obstacles on his way to achieving the Grandmaster title. As a father, having a FIDE coach gave him a clear road map, but it didn’t protect him from the psychological stress of the sport.“You may know what’s going to happen, but you can’t stop what’s going to happen,” Harshavardhan reflected. “You can say you know you may have to face this, but you can’t avoid facing the challenge.”The most testing phase came during his long struggle with final post-2020 GM specifications. He endured a string of heartbreaking near-misses around the globe.“I easily missed the GM mark in 10 to 15 games. It was either the technical part or I missed half a point,” he added.
Harshavardhan GB (Photo by ChessBase India)
Practical difficulties in international travel have also taken a toll. While at an event in Kazakhstan, severe flight delays left him completely stranded for two days.Moreover, maintaining a strict vegetarian diet abroad became a constant logistical struggle.These challenges are compounded by an absolute lack of financial support. Harshavardhan sails on expensive international circuits without a major corporate sponsor.“I’ve never had a scholarship, I’ve never had sponsorship. I was on a scholarship from the Airport Authority for a while, but now I have nothing,” he revealed.The financial burden fell solely on his small nuclear family. “Every time you travel, you spend a lot of money. Not buying things you don’t need, but just for the competition and accommodation, the prices are high.”
Looking to the future
After completing his Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) in 2024, Harshavardhan made a conscious decision to dedicate himself completely to chess as a full-time career.Now that the burden of the grandmaster title has been lifted, he has his sights set on the highest level of global chess.“My only hope is to get to 2,600, 2,700. Like, be a super general manager,” Harshavardhan concluded.
