Harikrishnan A Becomes India’s 87th Grandmaster

Harikrishnan A. Ra., a 23-year-old chess player from Chennai, has officially become India’s 87th Grandmaster. He earned his final Grandmaster (GM) norm at the La Plagne International Chess Festival in France on July 11, 2025, completing a long seven-year journey from International Master (IM) to GM.

A Long Journey to Grandmaster Title

Harikrishnan had been an International Master for seven years, chasing the Grandmaster title by competing in many tournaments. Despite coming close multiple times, he could not complete all three GM norms until now. Coached by Shyam Sundar, he kept working hard and stayed committed to his goal.

He finally achieved his third and final GM norm in France by drawing his last-round match against fellow Indian P. Iniyan. He had earlier defeated Jules Moussard of France in the eighth round. This result helped him finish fourth overall in the tournament and earn the prestigious GM title.

Key Moments and Past Norms

Harikrishnan earned his first GM norm at the Biel International Chess Festival 2023 in Switzerland, and his second norm at the Lince Andujar Chess Open in Spain in June 2025. At the La Plagne tournament, he knew he needed 1.5 points in his final two games and performed under pressure to achieve exactly that.

Speaking from France, Harikrishnan said, “It’s been a long wait and struggle. I feel very happy to finally become a GM.”

Future Plans and Career Goals

Harikrishnan recently completed his Master of Commerce (M.Com) from SRM University. He plans to continue playing in Spain and Portugal before returning to India. His next goal is to reach an Elo rating of 2600, a mark of elite-level players.

He also shared plans to pursue an MBA in the USA, balancing academics with his growing chess career.