Ashwath S Becomes India’s 98th Grandmaster at Pune International GM Tournament

New Delhi: In a landmark achievement for Indian chess, S. Ashwath has become India’s 98th Grandmaster after securing his final Grandmaster (GM) norm at the Pune International GM Round Robin 2026 tournament.

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Ashwath required just one final GM norm to earn the prestigious title. Competing in his first classical tournament of the year, he delivered an impressive performance to achieve the milestone.

Brilliant Finish at Pune International Tournament

In the final round, playing with the black pieces, Ashwath defeated FM Kannan Vaidyanathan to complete his third and final GM norm. He finished the tournament with 7 points from 9 rounds, securing second place overall.

His consistent performance throughout the tournament earned him official recognition as India’s 98th Grandmaster.

Pride of Tamil Nadu

With this achievement, S. Ashwath has also become Tamil Nadu’s 38th Grandmaster, further strengthening the state’s remarkable legacy in Indian chess.

Ashwath began his chess journey under the guidance of his father and coach, A.C. Shiva, at the Cape Chess Academy, where he received his early training.

India Inches Closer to 100 Grandmasters

Ashwath’s success takes the total number of Indian Grandmasters to 98, leaving the country just two titles away from the historic milestone of 100 Grandmasters.

Notably, this achievement comes just 12 days after three other Indian players also earned the Grandmaster title, highlighting the rapid growth and rising dominance of Indian chess on the global stage.

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