The making of India’s 97th Chess Grandmaster Harshavardhan GB. A ‘legend’ among friends, now proud of his parents Chess News:
NEW DELHI: As India moves one step closer to the mark of producing 100 Grandmasters, Chennai, long hailed as the “Mecca of Indian chess”, finds itself as the protagonist as well.On Sunday, Harshavardhan GB became India’s 97th Grandmaster (GM) from the ground itself. Pulling off three wins and a draw in his last four games to finish second with 6.5/9 points in the 2nd Chola Chess GM Norm Round Robin Tournament, he earned the third and final GM norm.Once the draw was confirmed in his final round match against veteran Mihail Nikitenko, Harshavardhan was showered with congratulations from fellow players and tournament organizers. But after a few handshakes, the 22-year-old rushed out of the waiting area, where he met a happy mother who was trying to hold back her tears as she congratulated her son and received congratulations from other parents waiting in the hall.It was a great moment for the family, but for Harshavardhan, it was, above all, a moment of great relief. Why? Because the wait is long. Harshavardhan earned his International Master (IM) title in 2020 and spent the next six years chasing the coveted GM title.“I feel relieved, first of all, to finally complete it,” Harshavardhan told TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive conversation. “And another good thing for me is that I took my IM title in Chennai, the last criteria. Now, doing my GM title here is also special.”
A Grandmaster now, the pride of his parents
The emotional scenes outside the playground were mirrored at the home of Harshavardhan’s father, Gopalakrishnan K, a respected FIDE trainer and former highly rated competitive player who once led the Indian Bank chess team.For a father who has spent years training other elite players, seeing his own son cross the final threshold is an indescribable milestone.“There are no words to explain his happiness. He is very happy,” shared Harshavardhan. “He wanted to go (to the venue) right after (ensuring the behavior of the GM). He was very excited to be there.”The win was equally a tribute to his mother, who served as his regular traveling companion for most of his career.“He was always with me till like last three years for every single tournament,” Harshavardhan recalled.
Harshavardhan GB with his mother (Photo by @CholaChess on X)
Although logistical and health considerations have meant she’s transitioned to traveling alone for the past two to three years, her maternal supervision has never wavered.“Even if I travel alone, he makes sure that he takes care of everything,” he added with a smile.
The origin of a Grandmaster
Harshavardhan’s introduction to the chessboard took place within the comfortable confines of his family home.By the time he was about three or four years old, his father regularly hosted training sessions for visiting International Masters and Grandmasters.“They used to attend classes at my house. At that age, I just watched them,” said Harshavardhan. “Then at some point, like about four, I got interested and started playing.”
Harshavardhan GB secures final GM rule (Photo by @CholaChess at X)
Recognizing the boy’s fast affinity for the game, his father turned to his close friend and Indian Bank colleague, FM Hariharan Venkatachalam, to oversee the coaching rounds of the foundation in Anna Nagar, Chennai.Hariharan was immediately struck by the left-handed kid’s raw potential.“He was a very bright student, very fast, and calculating,” Hariharan told this website. “In his early years, he showed his interest. He was very good at tactics in the beginning. He had no hands, so I thought he was good at something special.”
A ‘legend’ among friends
As Harshavardhan rose through the ranks, his sharp tactical eye and unconventional analytical ideas earned him an affectionate moniker among his training partners.“We used to play training games at that time when we were attending classes,” explained Harshavardhan with a smile. “I don’t remember if I did better there, or I came up with some creative ideas while doing the analyses.His friends just call him “legend”.That reputation was backed up 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 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 early years at Hariharan, Harshavardhan worked closely with veteran coach Visweswaran Kameswaran until 2022, before moving to Grandmaster Deepan Chakkravarthy in 2024.“They are really supportive, my coaches,” he emphasized.
When talent alone is not enough
Despite coming from a chess-centric household, the road to the title of Grandmaster exposed Harshavardhan to severe obstacles in the profession. Having a FIDE trainer as a father provided a clear roadmap, but it did not protect him from the psychological weight of the sport.“Maybe you know what’s coming, but you can’t stop what’s coming,” reflects Harshavardhan. “You can say you know you have to face it, but you can’t avoid facing challenges.”The most testing period occurred during his intense long-term pursuit of the final GM criteria after 2020. He suffered a sad series of near misses around the world.“I missed a GM norm in like 10 to 15 tournaments very quickly. It was either technical, or I missed half a point,” he added.
Harshavardhan GB (Image by ChessBase India)
The practical difficulties of international travel have also taken their toll. During an incident in Kazakhstan, a severe flight delay left him completely stranded for two days.Additionally, maintaining a strict vegetarian diet in foreign countries becomes a constant logistical struggle.Compounding these challenges is the complete lack of financial support. Harshavardhan navigated the expensive international circuit without a major corporate sponsor.“I was never in a scholarship, I was never in a sponsorship. I had a scholarship from the Airports Authority for a while, but now I don’t have anything,” he revealed.The entire financial burden fell on his small nuclear family. “Every time you travel, you spend a lot. Not for 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 fully to chess as a full-time career.Now that the burden of the Grandmaster title is gone, his sights are set on the highest level of global chess.“My only hope is to get 2600, 2700. Like, to be a super GM,” Harshavardhan concluded.
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