Rathanvel V S becomes India’s 99th Grandmaster

By admin July 31, 2026 0 comments

Rathanvel V S reached 2500 in live ratings on 18th July to become India’s 99th Grandmaster. Ten days before that India got its 98th Grandmaster in the form of Aswath S.

Fivee GM-norms and 2500+ in a little less than than five years

Ten days after Aswath S became India’s 98th Grandmaster, the 24-year-old from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, Rathanvel V S became India’s 99th Grandmaster at 3rd Guwahati Smart City Rating Open 2026. Rathanvel already had five GM-norms and his live rating reached 2497 earlier in March 2022. However, he had to wait almost 4.5 years for him to reach the magical 2500. Throughout the years Rathanvel’s performance always showed that he had the GM strength as he defeated World Blitz 2013 champion – Liem Quang Le (VIE) and also drew against the FIDE World Cup 2025 winner and the current World Championship Challenger – Javokhir Sindarov (UZB).

Thus, India got eight Grandmasters in the first seven months. It is the highest ever in a single calendar year. There are still five more months left and the 100th GM is just around the corner.

India’s 99th Grandmaster – Rathanvel V S | Photo: FA FI Ravi Kant Tiwari

First GM-norm: First Saturday GM September 2021

IM Rathanvel V S earned his maiden GM-norm at First Saturday GM September 2021 in Budapest, Hungary. He scored an unbeaten 7/9, performed at 2611 and finished second. Rathanvel defeated GM Lajos Seres (HUN), GM Milan Pacher, drew against GM David Berczes (HUN) and then IM Raja Rithvik R.

Milan – Rathanvel, Round 6

Position after 31…Qd4

GM Milan Pacher (SVK, 2415) erred 31.Qd1? His opponent, Rathanvel seized his opportunity, 31…Qd4-+ 32.Qc2 Bc5 33.Kh1 Qxf2 34.Qc4+ Kg7 35.Rd1 Rxh3! 36.Qe6 Rd3 37.Ra1 Qd4 38.Rf1 Qd6 39.Qe8 Rd1 and it’s over.

Rathanvel V S scored an unbeaten 7/9, performed at 2611, earned his maiden GM-norm, finished second and also gained 19.1 Elo rating points

Second GM-norm: Vezerkepzo GM Mix September 2021

Rathanvel earned his second GM-norm in the following week, his second consecutive tournament in September at Vezerkepzo GM Mix September 2021 in Budapest, Hungary. He defeated GM Gyula Pap (HUN), then FM Siddharth Jagadeesh (SGP), then FM Vaclav Finek (CZE), drew against GM Huynh Minh Huy Nguyen (VIE), GM Harsha Bharathakoti, GM Zlatko Ilincic (SRB) and then IM Raja Rithvik R.

Rathanvel – Gyula, Round 8

Position after 36…g6?

Rathanvel (2438) already had an advantageous position. GM Gyula Pap (HUN, 2493) did not help his case when he played 36…g6? allowing 37.Nxg6!+- Ra1+ 38.Kg2 fxg6 39.Rxe6 and White won the game in six more moves.

Rathanvel V S scored an unbeaten 7.5/9, won the tournament and increased his Elo rating by 19.9 points

Third GM-norm: First Saturday GM March 2022

About six months later, Rathanvel earned his final GM-norm at First Saturday GM March 2022 in Budapest, Hungary. He defeated GM Milan Pacher (SVK) and GM David Berczes (HUN), drew against GM Lajos Seres (HUN), performed at 2659, finished first and gained 19.1 Elo rating points en route his final GM-norm.

Berczes – Rathanvel, Round 5

Position after 65…Kc4

After making a mistake earlier and getting a chance to get back in the game, GM David Berczes (HUN, 2460) erred again when he played 66.Nf2?? Nd2-+ 67.Kb6 Kd5 68.Nh3 f3 69.Kb5 Ne4 70.Bb2 Ne5 71.Bc1 Nxg4 72.Kb4 Ngf2 73.Bxg5 Nd3+ 74.Kb3 Nxg5 and it’s over.

Rathanvel V S scored an unbeaten 7.5/9, performed at 2659, earned his final GM-norm and also added 19.1 Elo rating points

Fourth, fifth GM-norms and 2500

A little over 15 months later, Rathanvel scored his fourth GM-norm at 29th Abu Dhabi Chess Festival 2023 Masters. He defeated GM Jaime Santos Latasa (ESP), then FM Ethan Vaz, drew against the current World Championship Challenger and FIDE World Cup 2025 winner GM Javokhir Sindarov (UZB), GM Aryan Chopra, World Junior 2025 champion – GM Pranav Venkatesh, GM Vladislav Artemiev and GM Jakhongir Vakhidov (UZB). Rathanvel performed at 2657 and gained 20.2 Elo rating points.

Round 4: IM Rathanvel V S – GM Javokhir Sindarov (UZB): 0.5-0.5 | Photo: ChessBase India

Round 7: GM Vladislav Artemiev – IM Rathanvel V S: 0.5-0.5 | Photo: ChessBase India

Round 9: GM Jakhongir Vakhidov (UZB) – IM Rathanvel V S: 0.5-0.5 | Photo: ChessBase India

Rathanvel scored 5.5/9, performed at 2657 and gained 20.2 Elo rating points en route his fourth GM-norm

21 months later, Rathanvel scored his fifth GM-norm at French Top 16 2025 which is another strong event. Rathanvel defeated the Czech Republic legend – GM David Navara, Africa and Egypt no.1 – Dr. GM Bassem Amin, drew against World Rapid 2024 champion – GM Volodar Murzin, GM Maxime Lagarde (FRA), GM David Anton Guijarro (ESP), GM Yuri Solodovnichenko (UKR) and then IM Marco Materia (FRA).