Latest news with #BielChessFestival
India.com
13-07-2025
- Sport
- India.com
Meet Harikrishnan A Ra, Who Became India's 87th Grandmaster After Seven Years Of Grit
photoDetails english 2931130 Updated:Jul 13, 2025, 02:00 PM IST Meet India's 87th Grandmaster 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 ( 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
Gulf Today
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Gulf Today
Sharjah Chess Club players to compete in Chess Stars and Arab Championship
The Board of Directors of the Sharjah Cultural and Chess Club, chaired by Sheikh Dr. Khalid Bin Humaid Al Qasimi, held its regular meeting in the presence of board members. He welcomed the attendees and extended his gratitude for their continued efforts and contributions in recent months. During the meeting, the board congratulated three club players who were selected out of five total chess athletes across the country for the Talent Committee Platform, recently launched by the Ministry of Sports under the umbrella of the UAE Committee for Nurturing Sports Talent and Supporting National Sports. The selected players are Saqr Issa Khamis, Rashid Hussein Al Hammadi, and Safin Safar. The board also approved the club's participation in the Chess Stars Tournament, set to take place in Moscow from June 25 to July 1. The delegation will be headed by Vice President of Sharjah Cultural and Chess Club Omran Al Nuaimi, alongside coach Walter Arencibia and four players: Saqr Issa, Rashid Al Hammadi, Mohammed Al Muaini, and Abdulrahman Al Ali. Additionally, the club will compete in the Arab Individual Chess Age Groups Championship in Morocco from July 20 to 28, with board Member Khalifa Al Mazrouei leading the delegation. The team will include 12 players, accompanied by three coaches. The meeting also reviewed preparations for the upcoming training camp of Grandmaster Salem Abdulrahman, who is set to compete in the Biel Chess Festival in Switzerland, a prestigious event reserved for top-tier international players. Salem is also scheduled to participate in the Grand Swiss Championship in Uzbekistan. The board received updates on the organizing committee's final preparations for the club's annual summer programme, 'Our Holiday is Different', in which Sharjah Chess Club participates actively every year. Sheikh Dr. Khalid expressed his sincere appreciation to all board members for their active role in the club's recent events, especially the successful hosting of the Sharjah International Masters Chess Championship. He emphasized that the club's achievements, both in terms of competition results and world-class event organization, bring with them a great responsibility to continue excelling and reaching new heights. He affirmed that the club's success stems from its team-first philosophy, which has proven to be the cornerstone of its progress. He added that the club is set to participate in several upcoming international and regional tournaments and is hopeful of delivering strong performances. He also praised the Sharjah Sports Council, chaired by Issa Hilal Al Hazami, for its invaluable support, noting that the club is committed to turning this support into more achievements through close collaboration between the Board, coaching staff, and administration.
