At 25, Aravindh Chithambaram is a late bloomer when in comparison with teenaged sensations like D Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa who’re ruling the worldwide chess circuit proper now however the method during which he maneuvered the chances in his life by 64 squares, he appears a resilient king within the making.
His Prague Masters triumph has made the chess fraternity heat as much as the Madurai born Aravindh, who misplaced his father when he was solely three. The mom labored as an LIC agent, and was courageous sufficient to take a punt on his life by shifting base from Madurai to Chennai, which is India’s unofficial chess capital.
The years of sacrifice and laborious work is lastly paying dividends. The iconic Vellamal School, which is the alma mater of World Champion Gukesh, now has one other worldwide participant of reputation to boast about. After all Aravindh is Gukesh’s senior.
The victory at Prague has earned him a wild card to the distinguished Grand Chess Tour in Poland.
“I’ve been getting invites through the course of the event and Grand Chess Tour Rapid and Blitz (occasion) is one of them,” Aravindh informed.. “I have been getting invitations during the course of the tournament and Grand Chess Tour Rapid and Blitz (event) is one of them,” Aravindh knowledgeable.
Normally, a top-20 slot on the earth rankings ensures not less than a number of invites at prime tournaments however earlier than Prague, Aravindh had confirmed his participation within the Sharjah Masters and the Biel International, the occasions slated in May and July respectively.
Aravindh is now supported by the Cholamandalam group however only a few keep in mind when Viswanathan Anand misplaced his world title to Magnus Carlsen in Chennai again in 2013, on the similar time, schoolboy Aravindh was garnering consideration on the different finish of town in an International Open meet.
It was that very event the place Aravindh earned his first GM norm profitable the open occasion and has not seemed again since.
In 2015, he turned a GM and has been steadily enhancing though the large outcomes which had grow to be synonymous with Praggnanandhaa, Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi eluded him. Many may need felt that point is operating out as he’s actually a number of years older than the elite troika.
In 2019, Arvindh gained the Indian Open in classical, speedy and blitz and have become the primary Indian to attain this uncommon feat. Last November, he lastly gained the Chennai Grandmasters event and breached the 2700 ELO score barrier and now his victory at Prague Masters confirms his standing because the fourth pillar to Gukesh, Arjun and Praggnanandhaa.
In Prague, Aravindh scored six factors in all coming by three victories and 6 attracts and completed a full level forward of Praggnanandhaa, GM Anish Giri of Holland and Wei Yi of China.
The victory speaks quantity towards a star studded discipline and could possibly be the start for Aravindh to interrupt into the highest ten and even past.
As on Friday afternoon after he gained the Masters, Aravindh stood at quantity 14 in dwell world rankings and fourth in India.
Published – March 08, 2025 02:35 pm IST
