Chennai’s Ilamparthi A R achieved his final norm in Bosnia, becoming India’s 90th Grandmaster.
New Delhi
Young chess prodigy Ilamparthi A R has become India’s newest Grandmaster after securing his final norm at the GM4 Bijeljina 2025 Chess Festival in Bosnia and Herzegovina on Thursday.
The 16-year-old from Chennai is now the 90th Indian to achieve the prestigious title. “Grandmaster No. 90 for Bharat! Congratulations to Ilamparthi AR on fulfilling all the requirements to become the 90th Grandmaster of the country,” All India Chess Federation (AICF) president Nitin Narang posted on X. “Wishing you many more laurels and continued success in making the nation proud.”
Ilamparthi earned his first Grandmaster norm at the Ha Noi tournament in Vietnam in December 2023, followed by his second at the Singapore International Open in 2024. He crossed the 2500 Elo rating mark during the Rilton Cup (2024–25), before completing the final requirement in Bosnia to seal his GM title.
The teenager has been one of India’s most promising chess talents, steadily rising through the junior ranks. Former world champion Viswanathan Anand, who has mentored several young Indian players through his WestBridge Anand Chess Academy, also congratulated Ilamparthi.
“Happy to announce Ilamparthi as a GM! He has missed the title narrowly a few times but kept coming back stronger. I truly believe he has great potential, and we’ll continue working towards greater achievements,” Anand wrote on X.
Ilamparthi’s achievement adds to India’s growing dominance in world chess, which now boasts multiple elite players, including reigning world champion D Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, and R Praggnanandhaa.
