Sixteen-year-old Ilamparthi A. R. from Chennai has become India’s 90th chess Grandmaster after achieving his final GM norm at the Bijeljina Open in Bosnia and Herzegovina on October 30, 2025.

The young prodigy, who trains under Grandmaster Shyam Sundar at Velammal School and is part of Viswanathan Anand’s academy, earned his first norm in Vietnam in December 2023, followed by his second at the Singapore International Open in 2024, before crossing the crucial 2500 Elo rating threshold at the Rilton Cup.

A former World U-14 Open champion, Ilamparthi represents Tamil Nadu’s 35th Grandmaster, highlighting the state’s unmatched dominance in producing chess talent. His achievement comes during an unprecedented golden era for Indian chess, with the country now boasting 90 Grandmasters compared to just one in 1988.

Ilamparthi A. R’s Journey

Ilamparthi’s path to becoming a Grandmaster has been marked by both brilliance and resilience. Born in 2009, the Chennai native first caught global attention when he won the World U-14 Open Championship in September 2022 at Mamaia, Romania, scoring an impressive 9.5 points from 11 rounds.

His early promise was evident when, at just seven years old, he was already ranked World No. 1 in the Under-8 category with a FIDE rating of 1764, and gained recognition for increasing his rating by a remarkable 235 points in a single month in January 2017.​

Five-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand, under whose academy Ilamparthi trains, congratulated him warmly, writing on social media: “Happy to announce Ilamparthi as a GM! He missed the title on a few occasions but came back stronger each time. He has a lot of potential, and we hope to work together towards greater achievements”. ​

Tamil Nadu: The Undisputed Chess Capital of India

Ilamparthi’s achievement further cements Tamil Nadu’s extraordinary status as India’s chess powerhouse. As the state’s 35th Grandmaster, he joins an illustrious lineage that includes legends like Viswanathan Anand (India’s first GM in 1988), Manuel Aaron (India’s first International Master in 1961), Subbaraman Vijayalakshmi (India’s first woman GM), and current stars D. Gukesh, R. Praggnanandhaa, and R. Vaishali. Of India’s 90 Grandmasters, nearly 40 per cent hail from Tamil Nadu, a dominance unmatched by any other state.

​Congratulating him, Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin said, “Tamil Nadu’s 35th Grandmaster Ilamparthi makes our reign on the 64 squares shine brighter! He battles through brilliance to script history, earning his title and adding another jewel to Tamil Nadu’s crown of champions. As the sun rises higher on Tamil Nadu chess, the #DravidianModel will keep turning every promising move into a masterstroke. More TN GMs in the making!”

This remarkable concentration of chess talent stems from multiple factors. The state has cultivated a robust chess culture dating back to the early 1960s, with active district and state chess federations, and the All India Chess Federation was based in Chennai for many years during its formative period. Institutions like the Tal Chess Club, established in 1972, provided early nurturing grounds for talents like Anand.

Schools in Tamil Nadu have been particularly supportive of chess prodigies, offering flexible schedules and resources. ​

Velammal School, where Ilamparthi studies, has become synonymous with chess excellence, having nurtured multiple world-class players including D. Gukesh and R. Praggnanandhaa. ​

India’s Chess Revolution

India’s chess landscape has undergone a breathtaking transformation over the past four decades. When Viswanathan Anand became India’s first Grandmaster in 1988 at age 18, he stood alone as the country’s only GM for several years. The growth remained slow initially, with India producing around 20 GMs by 2010 and crossing the 50-mark only in 2018. However, the pace accelerated dramatically thereafter. By 2024, India had 88 Grandmasters, and with Ilamparthi’s achievement, the nation now boasts 90 GMs as of October 2025.​

This exponential growth reflects India’s emergence as a global chess superpower. Viswanathan Anand’s five World Championship titles between 2000 and 2012 ignited a chess revolution across India, demonstrating that Indian players could compete at the highest levels. ​

The development of chess academies and improved infrastructure has been crucial to this boom. After Anand’s World Championship win in 2000, chess clubs mushroomed in cities like Chennai, Mumbai, and Delhi, while schools began introducing chess as an extracurricular activity. The All India Chess Federation, founded in 1951, played a pivotal role in organising tournaments, supporting players, and connecting India to the international chess community.​

The Logical Indian’s Perspective

Ilamparthi A. R.’s achievement as India’s 90th Grandmaster represents far more than an individual sporting milestone. It symbolises the power of systematic support, visionary mentorship, and unwavering determination in nurturing young talent.

His journey, marked by six near-misses before finally clinching the title, embodies resilience and the refusal to surrender to setbacks. That organisations like Viswanathan Anand’s academy and international figures like Anish Giri recognised and supported his potential demonstrates the importance of collective investment in young talent.