Rathanvel VS achieves Grandmaster status

By Priya Nair — 19 July 2026 — 3 min read

Rathanvel VS achieves Grandmaster status

Rathanvel VS from Coimbatore has officially become India’s 99th Grandmaster (GM) in chess. This achievement follows a four-and-a-half-year pursuit of the necessary 2500 Elo rating, a crucial requirement alongside earning GM norms. The final points were secured in Assam, marking a significant milestone in his career.

The journey to this title was not without its challenges. Rathanvel had accumulated the required GM norms with relative ease, including a first norm in September 2021 at the First Saturday tournament in Hungary, followed by a second in the same month at the Vezerkepzo GM-MIX, and a third in 2022. However, reaching the 2500 Elo rating proved to be a persistent hurdle.

He described periods of intense pressure, often blundering winning games when close to the 2500 mark, leading to significant rating drops. These struggles sometimes resulted in sleepless nights and feelings of depression. External factors also contributed to the delays, including fracturing his hand twice and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on international travel, which disrupted his momentum. His mechanical engineering studies at Hindustan College in Coimbatore also demanded his attention during this period.

The final push for the rating

In July of this year, with his FIDE rating at 2492, Rathanvel travelled to Assam to participate in two rating tournaments. He adopted an unconventional strategy, deliberately playing against lower-rated opponents, specifically those under 1600. This approach allowed him to secure the necessary eight Elo points to cross the 2500 threshold.

This method, which involved skipping rounds to face specific opponents, was a calculated move to gain the final points needed for the GM title. His determination was evident, particularly after a disheartening game against David Paravyan in Abu Dhabi, where he felt on the verge of victory but ultimately blundered, leading to thoughts of taking a break from chess.

Rathanvel’s early introduction to chess came from a free chessboard received with a health drink when he was six or seven years old. This led to him pestering his mother to play, eventually enrolling in a local academy under coaches Krishnamoorthy and Dhansekar, whom he still credits for their early guidance. His coaching circle later expanded to include notable mentors such as GM Vishnu Prasanna, GM Srinath Narayanan, GM Sundararajan Kidambi, and GM Shyam Sundar.

Support and future aspirations

Financial support played a role in his journey, with sponsorship from MPL (Mobile Premier League) from 2019 to 2025. This support ended due to the Indian government’s ban on real-money gaming platforms. His family, including his father Sivakumar and mother Senthil Vadivu, who run a wedding card printing business in Coimbatore, also provided a crucial financial lifeline. His younger brother, Rohith, is a lawyer.

Upon achieving the title, Rathanvel expressed a sense of fulfillment and relief rather than immediate elation, noting that the prolonged wait had been a significant burden. He highlighted his parents’ hopes as a primary motivation throughout his difficult journey. He acknowledges that while the GM title may not immediately open doors to top invitational events, which typically require a rating of 2650 or higher, it will likely increase his visibility among organisers, potentially easing financial burdens through better accommodation and opportunities.

Currently, Rathanvel is involved in teaching chess online as a freelance tutor and has plans to establish his own academy. He envisions his life continuing to revolve around chess, indicating a long-term commitment to the sport.