14-yr-old Bharath Subramaniyam Becomes India’s 73rd Chess Grandmaster

Bharath Subramaniyam, 14, became India’s 73rd Grandmaster on Sunday, January 9th, after fulfilling his third and final GM norm at the Vergani Cup Open in Italy. The Chennai-based player finished seventh overall in the event with 6.5 points from nine rounds and four others. He earned his third GM norm here, as well as the required 2,500 (Elo) score. A player must obtain three GM norms and a live rating of 2,500 Elo points in order to become a GM.

The All India Chess Federation (AICF) also congratulated the teenager on his feat. “Fourteen-year-old Bharath Subramaniyam becomes the 73rd Grandmaster of the country after completing his final GM Norm and crossing the 2500 rating at Vergani Cup Open in Italy. All India Chess Federation congratulates Bharath for the achievement,” AICF wrote on its website.

Bharath won six games and drew one while losing two games to Korobov and Lalith Babu. After finishing 11th at the Aeroflot Open in Moscow in February 2020, he earned his first GM norm. In October 2021, he earned the second norm after finishing fourth with 6.5 points in the Junior Roundtable Under 21 competition in Bulgaria.

In 2019, Bharath, who was 11 years and 8 months old at the time, became an International Master.