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Time of India
a day ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Chennai engineering student is 89th from India to reach the mark
Chennai engineering student is 89th from India to reach the mark CHENNAI: A new grandmaster from Tamil Nadu has almost become a trend, but there's something striking about S Rohith Krishna. The 20-year-old Chennai boy secured all three norms — the first in March, the second in May, and the final at the Almaty Masters Qonaev Cup in Kazakhstan on Tuesday — in a space of six months. Rohith is now India's 89th Grandmaster and the 33rd from Tamil Nadu. His tryst with chess began at the age of eight, when his veterinarian mother offered him a choice between chess and drawing. He picked chess, and there has been no looking back. In his early years, Rohith defeated some of the top talents, including world champion D Gukesh. While his chess friends zoomed ahead, Rohith, who became an IM in 2022, slowed his rating climb to focus on academics. He is currently in the third year of an engineering degree at SSN College of Engineering. Talking to TOI, Rohith's coach K Visweswaran said: 'Rohith defeated the likes of Gukesh and other top players when he was a kid, but he couldn't rise further because he wanted to focus on his studies and balance both. He studied in a CBSE school and always scored 90-plus. He wants to be an allrounder; a good engineer and a good chess player. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 11 Foods That Help In Healing Knee Pain Naturally Undo 'It may seem like he achieved his norms quickly, many years of effort went into it. There were many moments of internal panic. He always had the ability to make a he not focused so much on academics, this could have happened last year. He has been a Grandmaster in the making for years.' After a string of strong performances, Rohith's immediate goal is to cross the 2600 barrier in FIDE rating. 'Instead of chasing the final norm, I decided to focus on preparation and improving my game. I was sure I would become a Grandmaster; it was just a matter of time, so I wanted to strengthen my overall play. In Almaty Masters, I needed a win in the final round and I went in with an open mind, knowing anything could happen. I feel relieved and happy after achieving this milestone,' Rohith told TOI from Abu Dhabi. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
The Hindu
a day ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
S. Rohit Krishna becomes India's 89th Grand Master
S. Rohith Krishna has always been a bright student of academics. However, Rohith felt that his pursuit of excellence in academics slowed down the pace of his becoming a chess Grandmaster. When he became the 89th Indian Grandmaster at the Almaty Masters Qonaev Cup in Kazakhstan on Tuesday (August 12, 2025), with a victory over IM Artur Davtyan of Romania in the final round, securing six points out of nine, he was on top of the world. The 19-year-old, a third year student of SSN College of Engineering, knows that his journey has just begun. Speaking to The Hindu from Dubai, where he is taking part in the Abu Dhabi International tournament beginning August 15, Rohith said: 'Finally, achieving the dream of becoming a Grandmaster—one I have pursued since 2013—has brought me immense relief and joy. I will always remember my friends, family, and mentors who stood by me in difficult times, encouraging me never to give up. This is not the end—it is just the beginning of a longer journey ahead.' Rohith acknowledged the support of his school—Sunshine (Velachery), and College—SSN College, that made the path to becoming a Grand Master relatively smooth. 'At times, I felt the pressure of not achieving the Grandmaster title as quickly as I expected, as balancing academics and chess was never easy. However, the support of The Sunshine School and SSN College kept me motivated to excel in both fields,' he emphasised while thanking the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu for its financial assistance. K. Visweswaran, head coach of Kameswaran Chess Academy (Chennai), and one who has been training with Rohith closely since 2019, said his ward wanted to achieve excellence in academics and chess, and it was a conscious decision. 'He remains a very good student. He invested two years for school (Std. XI and XII) and one year in College (SSN) to get accustomed to the environment. Rohith looks at life holistically,' said the coach. According to his coach, 'Rohith is a diligent and a patient player. He is more or less like former England cricketer David Gower, elegant and positive. Like Gower, he is always ready to punish loose balls. He is tactically sharp and quick to capitalise on the opponent's mistakes. Now with the GM pressure off his back, he can go for tournament wins.' After becoming an International Master in 2022, Rohith earned his maiden GM-norm by winning the Hotel Stockholm North GM round-robin tournament in March 2025 and he got his second norm in the 2025 Dubai Open in May. It's time to witness a new and revitalised Rohith.
