NEW DELHI: As India moves a step closer to the landmark of producing 100 Grand Masters, Chennai, long hailed as the ‘Mecca of Indian chess’, finds itself as the protagonist.On Sunday, Harshavardhan GB became the 97th Grand Master (GM) of India from the same land. He scored three wins and a draw in his last four games to finish second with 6.5/9 points at the 2nd Chola Chess GM Norm Round Robin Tournament, securing the third and final GM norm.The moment the draw was confirmed in his final match against veteran Mihail Nikitenko, Harshavardhan was showered with congratulations from his teammates and tournament organizers. But after a few handshakes, the 22-year-old rushed outside to the waiting area, where he met an elated mother trying to hold back tears as she congratulated her son and received congratulations from other parents waiting in the hall.It was a wholesome moment for the family, but for Harshavardhan, it was, above all, a moment of immense relief. For what? Because the wait had been long. Harshavardhan had earned his International Master (IM) title in 2020 and had spent the next six years chasing the coveted title of GM.“I feel relieved, first of all, when it finally ends,” Harshavardhan told TimesofIndia.com during an exclusive chat. “And a better thing for me is that I got my IM title in Chennai, the last norm. Now, doing my GM title here is also special.”
A Grand Master now, the pride of his parents
The emotional scenes outside the gaming hall were mirrored at home by Harshavardhan’s father Gopalakrishnan K, a respected FIDE trainer and former highly skilled competitive player who once led the Indian Bank chess team.For a father who spent years training other elite players, seeing his own son cross the ultimate limit was an indescribable milestone.“No words can explain her happiness. She is very happy,” shared Harshavardhan. “I wanted to come (to the place) right after (the GM standard was secured). I was very excited to be here.”The win was also a tribute to his mother, who has served as his regular traveling companion for most of his career.“She used to accompany me till the last three years for every tournament,” recalled Harshavardhan.
Harshavardhan GB with his mother (Photo by @CholaChess on X)
Although logistical and health considerations have meant that she has transitioned to traveling alone in the last two or three years, her maternal vigilance has never wavered.“Even when I’m traveling alone, she makes sure she takes care of everything,” he added with a smile.
The origins of a Grand Master
Harshavardhan’s introduction to chess took place entirely within the cozy confines of his family home.By the time he was about three or four years old, his father was regularly hosting training sessions for visiting International Masters and Grand Masters.“They used to attend classes in my house. At that age, I only saw them,” said Harshavardhan. “Then at some point, like about four, I got interested and started playing.”
Harshavardhan GB secures GM final norm (Photo by @CholaChess on X)
Recognizing the boy’s quick affinity for the game, his father turned to his close friend and Indian Bank colleague, FM Hariharan Venkatachalam, to handle the fundamental coaching phases in Anna Nagar, Chennai.Hariharan was immediately struck by the left-hander’s raw potential.“He was a very bright student, very quick, and calculating,” Hariharan told this website. “In his early years, he showed his interest. He was very good in tactics initially. He was missed, because I thought he would be very good for something special.”
A “legend” among friends
As Harshavardhan rose through the ranks, his sharp tactical eye and unorthodox analytical ideas earned him an affectionate moniker among his fellow trainees.“We used to play training matches at that time when we were attending classes,” explained Harshavardhan with a smile. “I don’t remember if it was much better there, or I had very creative ideas while doing those analyses. So that’s how the name took, and then it started.”His friends just call him “legend”.This reputation was backed up by an incredibly consistent junior career. He won a bronze medal at the Asian Schools in 2012, a bronze medal at the Asian Youth in 2015, and a silver medal 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 then added a FIDE World Youth Online Under-18 gold in 2021, an Asian Juniors gold in 2022, and also qualified for the FIDE World Cup.After his early years with Hariharan, Harshavardhan worked closely with veteran coach Visweswaran Kameswaran until 2022, before moving on to Grandmaster Deepan Chakkravarthy in 2024.“It was really supportive, my coaches,” he emphasized.
When talent alone wasn’t enough
Despite coming from a chess-centric home, the path to the title of Grandmaster exposed Harshavardhan to severe professional obstacles. Having a FIDE coach as a father provided a clear path, but it could not protect him from the psychological burden of the sport.“You can know what’s coming, but you can’t stop what’s coming,” reflected Harshavardhan. “You can say you know you could face this, but you can’t avoid facing challenges.”The most testing phase occurred during his agonizingly long pursuit of the final GM standard after 2020. He suffered a heartbreaking string of near misses around the globe.“I missed a GM standard in like 10 to 15 tournaments very easily. It will either be technical, or I miss half a point,” he added.
Harshavardhan GB (Photo by ChessBase India)
The practical difficulties of international travel have also taken a toll. During an event in Kazakhstan, severe flight delays left it completely closed for two days.Also, maintaining a strict vegetarian diet in foreign countries has become a constant logistical struggle.Compounding these challenges was the absolute lack of financial support. Harshavardhan navigated the expensive international circuit without a primary corporate sponsor.“I was never on a scholarship, I was never on a sponsorship. I had a scholarship from the Airports Authority for some time, but now I’m not on anything,” he revealed.The financial burden fell entirely on his small nuclear family. “Every time you travel, you spend a lot. Not on anything 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 a conscious decision to devote himself entirely to chess as a full-time career.Now that the burden of the title of Grandmaster has been lifted, his sights are set on the highest level of global chess.“My only hope is to reach 2600, 2700. Like, become a super GM,” concludes Harshavardhan.
