Meet Harikrishnan A Ra, Who Became India's 87th Grandmaster After Seven Years Of Grit
1 / 10
Harikrishnan A Ra, a 23-year-old from Chennai, has officially become India's 87th Grandmaster. He earned the prestigious title after securing his final GM norm at the La Plagne International Chess Festival in France on July 11, 2025. A Seven-Year Journey of Grit
2 / 10
Harikrishnan became an International Master (IM) in 2018, but his road to Grandmaster status was long and challenging. It took seven years of consistent performance, travel, and endurance to achieve this lifelong goal. The Three Crucial Norms
3 / 10
He earned his GM norms at: Biel Chess Festival, Switzerland (2023) Lince Andújar Open, Spain (June 2025) La Plagne, France (July 2025), drawing against Pranesh Iniyan in the final round. The Marathon Man of Chess
4 / 10
In his final push toward the GM title, Harikrishnan played 10 consecutive tournaments abroad, including events in Dubai, Croatia, Russia, Spain, and France. He believes his peak performance comes after 3-4 events in a row. Mentored by Excellence
5 / 10
Harikrishnan trains under Grandmaster Shyamsundar Mohanraj, who also coached India's 86th GM, Srihari LR. His guidance helped sharpen Harikrishnan's strategy and resilience on the board. No Time for Celebration
6 / 10
Even after achieving his GM title, Harikrishnan remains grounded. Instead of celebrating, he is focused on upcoming tournaments, proving his dedication and hunger for growth in the chess world. Next Goals: 2600 Elo and MBA
7 / 10
While he's chasing a 2600+ Elo rating, Harikrishnan also plans to pursue an MBA in the United States. He holds a Master's in Commerce (M.Com) from SRM University, showing his balance between academics and sport. Career Highlights
8 / 10
Notable performances: 2nd place at Ljubljana Festival 2024 (7.5/9)
Champion at Chania Chess Open 2024
Dominant wins in multiple rapid and blitz events across 2023. India's Chess Boom Continues
9 / 10
Harikrishnan's rise adds to India's growing chess dominance. With Chennai as a chess hub and a strong mentor ecosystem, the country is now producing top-tier GMs faster than ever. 'A Struggle, But Worth It'
10 / 10
Reflecting on his achievement, Harikrishnan said: 'It's been seven years... a struggle. I feel very happy.' His journey reflects persistence, discipline, and the mindset of a champion.
All Images:- X, Chessbase India
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
6 hours ago
- First Post
Chennai Grand Masters 2025: Vincent Keymer leads despite being held by Arjun Erigaisi in Round 6
Round 6 of the Chennai Grand Masters 2025 featured intense battles in both Masters and Challengers sections. Vincent Keymer is still ahead in the Masters section despite a draw against second-placed Arjun Erigaisi on Tuesday. Day six of the Chennai Grand Masters 2025 saw some exciting battles as the players fought hard in Round 6 on Tuesday, August 12. Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi and Germany's Vincent Keymer played a tough game in the Masters section that ended in a draw. Keymer continues to lead the tournament with 4.5 points. Another thrilling match was between Vidit Gujrathi and Anish Giri, which ended in a draw, keeping both players tied with three points each. Dutch GM Jorden van Foreest won against Nihal Sarin with black pieces. American GM Awonder Liang also scored an important win with black pieces against India's V Pranav. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In another game, Karthikeyan Murali and Ray Robson faced off, which ended in a draw. So, three games ended in a draw in the Masters section in Round 6. Round 6 – Masters Summary Precision play and creative tactics defined Round 6, keeping fans on the edge of their seats. Every board tells a new story, and the fight for the lead intensifies. 🔥 Who's turning momentum into victory? 📍 Chennai | 🗓️ 12 Aug 2025@ChessbaseIndia… — Quantbox Chennai Grand Masters (@Chennai_GM) August 12, 2025 In the Challengers section, M Pranesh won his game against Abhimanyu Puranik, while Leon Luke Mendonca defeated Aryan Chopra. Harika Dronavalli beat Vaishali Rameshbabu, and Adhiban Baskaran also scored a win over Diptayan Ghosh. The only draw was between Pa Iniyan and Harshavardhan GB. Chennai Grand Masters 2025: Masters standings after Round 6 Rank Player Country Points 1 GM Vincent Keymer Germany 4.5 2 GM Arjun Erigaisi India 3.5 3 GM Awonder Liang USA 3.5 4 GM Anish Giri Netherlands 3.0 5 GM Karthikeyan Murali India 3.0 6 GM Vidit Gujrathi India 3.0 7 GM Jorden van Foreest Netherlands 3.0 8 GM Ray Robson USA 2.5 9 GM Nihal Sarin India 2.0 10 GM V Pranav India 2.0 Chennai Grand Masters 2025: Challengers standings after Round 6 Rank Player Country Points 1 M Pranesh India 4.5 1 Abhimanyu Puranik India 4.5 1 Leon Luke Mendonca India 4.5 4 Adhiban Baskaran India 3.5 4 Diptayan Ghosh India 3.5 4 Pa Iniyan India 3.5 7 Harshavardhan GB India 2.0 8 Aryan Chopra India 1.5 8 Harika Dronavalli India 1.5 10 Vaishali Rameshbabu India 1.0
India.com
15 hours ago
- India.com
5 Players Who Could Replace Rohit Sharma If He Retires Before 2027 WC : Abhishek Sharma, Yashasvi...
photoDetails english 2944916 Updated:Aug 12, 2025, 04:00 PM IST Rohit Sharma at a Career Crossroads 1 / 9 Rohit Sharma, aged 38 in 2025, recently retired from Test and T20 international cricket. Media reports suggest the upcoming India tour of Australia in October 2025, featuring three ODI matches, could be Rohit's last ODI series. The BCCI and team management are focusing on younger players as part of the transition towards the 2027 ODI World Cup. The Transition Ahead for Team India 2 / 9 Rohit's possible ODI retirement marks the end of an era for India's white-ball cricket. Several promising young players are emerging as potential replacements to fill the void at the top of the order ahead of the 2027 World Cup. The team aims to maintain its dominance by grooming next-generation talent alongside experienced campaigners. Here are Five such players - Abhishek Sharma 3 / 9 A Promising young middle-order batsman known for elegant strokeplay and consistency in white-ball cricket. He Has impressed in domestic cricket and IPL with ability to play under pressure and rotate strike efficiently. His recent T20i performances makes him automatic swap for the veteran. Yashasvi Jaiswal 4 / 9 Yashasvi has been world beater in Tests and T20is scoring hundreds at will. He can be brought to ODI setup if Rohit retires. The Rising star widely regarded as a future mainstay in India's top order across formats. Sai Sudharsan 5 / 9 A Technically sound left-hander with an outstanding List A record (average around 60+). Has made an impactful ODI debut and shown temperament suitable for anchoring innings. He also brings fielding agility and batting versatility, making him a strong candidate for the opening spot. Ishan Kishan 6 / 9 He is an explosive wicketkeeper-batsman known for attacking starts and power-hitting. Also has international T20 experience and IPL success as a dynamic middle-order batter. He Offers high strike rate ability and excellent glovework, providing balance to the side as he is a wicket-keeper too. Vaibhav Suryavanshi 7 / 9 A Left-handed batsman with a patient approach and solid technique in domestic cricket. He is Known for maturity under pressure and capable of anchoring innings when needed and as also seen as a dependable top-order prospect ready to graduate to international cricket soon. He has shown his glimpses of brilliance in IPL and A tours and can be fastracked. Rohit Sharma's ODI Career Highlights 8 / 9 Matches: 273+ ODIs Runs: 11,168+ Batting Average: ~48.76 Strike Rate: ~88 Centuries: 32+ (including the world record highest individual ODI score of 264) Captained India to notable trophies including ICC Champions Trophy 2023 and 2025 Champions Trophy victory. Rohit Sharma's World Cup Impact 9 / 9 Records he holds - Holds record for most double centuries in ODIs and highest individual innings score. Key performer in multiple ICC World Cups, known for consistency and match-winning abilities. Instrumental in guiding India through high-pressure games and major tournaments.
India.com
a day ago
- India.com
4 Players Who Could Replace Virat Kohli In Indias ODI Team After His Retirement: Sai Sudharsan, Sanju Samson And...
photoDetails english 2944727 Virat Kohli last played for India in March during the 2025 Champions Trophy in Dubai. The future of Virat in international cricket remains uncertain with several media reports claiming that the current team management is looking to move on from him and Rohit Sharma in One-Day Internationals (ODI), with a focus on grooming youngsters for the 2027 ODI World Cup. Only time will tell when Kohli decides to move from international cricket. But India will have to find his replacement whenever he retires from international cricket. Replacing Virat in India's ODI team will be a huge task, given his unmatched consistency and run-scoring ability at No. 3 over the years. Let's take a look at 4 potential replacements for Virat Kohli in ODIs after his retirement: Updated:Aug 11, 2025, 11:01 PM IST 1. Sai Sudharsan 1 / 7 Sai Sudharsan, a technically sound left-hander, has a fantastic List A record, scoring 1396 runs in 28 matches at an average of 60.69 and a strike rate of 95.61. When it comes to his List A record at No. 3, it's exceptional as Sai averages 102 at that position, making him a strong candidate to anchor the innings like Kohli. He made his ODI debut for India against South Africa at Johannesburg on December 17, 2023 and has scored 127 runs in three matches with an average of 63.50 so far. His temperament and consistency in domestic cricket as well as in the IPL project him as a future star. (Pic credit: ICC) 2. Ruturaj Gaikwad 2 / 7 In his short international cricket, Ruturaj Gaikwad has shown promise but he hasn't been able to cement his place in the Indian team. He has been in an out of the Indian setup due tough competition, injury and various other reasons. However, his List A record is pretty good, scoring 4324 runs in 86 matches with an average of 56.15 with the help of 16 centuries and 17 fifties. He also has been very consistent for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL in the last few years. His risk-averse shot making, ability to anchor innings and bat according to the game situation, make him a ideal candidate to replace Virat Kohli at No. 3 in ODIs in near future.(Pic Credit: IANS) Ruturaj Gaikwad's Record In ODIs 3 / 7 Ruturaj Gaikwad made his ODI debut for India against South Africa at Lucknow on October 06, 2022. He has scored 115 runs in 6 ODIs with one half-century so far. (Pic Credit: IANS) 3. Sanju Samson 4 / 7 Sanju Samson last played for India in ODI cricket on December 21, 2023 against South Africa and scored a century (108 off 114) while batting at No.3 in that match, which 'Men in Blue' won by 78 runs. During his short ODI career, he has shown that he is a very capable batter in the 50-over format. Samson, a versatile batter, who has all the shots in white ball cricket, can be an ideal candidate to replace Virat Kohli at No. 3 in ODIs in near future. (Pic Credit: IANS) Sanju Samson's Record In ODIs 5 / 7 Sanju Samson, who made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka at Colombo on July 23, 2021, has scored 510 runs in 16 matches with an average of 56.66 so far in the 50-over cricket. (Pic Credit: IANS) 4. Tilak Varma 6 / 7 Tilak Varma, has been the one of the most consistent batters for India as well as Mumbai Indians in T20 cricket in the last few years. Tilak's aggressive yet composed approach suits the modern ODI game, and his ability to play long innings makes him a contender to replace Virat Kohli at No. 3 in ODIs in near future. (Pic Credit: IANS) Tilak Varma's Record In ODIs 7 / 7 Tilak Varma made his ODI debut against Bangladesh at Colombo on September 15, 2023 and has scored 68 runs in 4 matches so far. (Pic Credit: IANS)
