Another Milestone for Indian Chess: Aswath S Becomes India's 98th Grandmaster

India's remarkable chess revolution has another shining star. Seventeen-year-old Aswath S from Kanyakumari has officially become the country's 98th Grandmaster, achieving the coveted title after a dramatic must-win victory at the Pune International Grandmaster Round Robin Tournament.Needing a win in the final round to secure his third and final Grandmaster norm, Aswath delivered under immense pressure. Playing with the black pieces, he defeated USA's FM Kannan Vaidyanathan, finishing the tournament with an impressive 7/9 points and etching his name into Indian chess history.A Champion Who Grew Up Around ChessFor Aswath, chess was more than a game—it was part of everyday life. The chessboard was always within reach at home, while his family's academy operated just upstairs. His father, A.C. Shiva, introduced him to the game when he was only three years old and became his first coach. His mother, who learned chess after marriage, now teaches beginners and intermediate players while managing the family's Cape Chess Academy in Nagercoil.It was the perfect environment for a future Grandmaster. By the age of four, Aswath was already competing in district tournaments. His first major breakthrough came in 2015 when he dominated the Under-7 State Championship, scoring a flawless 9 out of 9 points, giving an early glimpse of the talent that would soon flourish.The Tournament That Tested His NervesThe road to the Grandmaster title was anything but easy. Seeded second behind Grandmaster Abhijeet Gupta, Aswath endured a difficult opening phase in Pune. After three rounds, he had collected only 1.5 points following a defeat to Gupta and a draw against IM Kushagra Mohan.Although he bounced back with consecutive victories in the fourth and fifth rounds, another draw in Round Six against young FM Advik Amit Agrawal left him with an enormous challenge. To become a Grandmaster, he now needed to win all three remaining games. Instead of allowing the pressure to overwhelm him, Aswath kept his focus. "I just wanted to keep everything as simple as I can," he said to Sportstar while reflecting on the tense final stretch. The strategy worked brilliantly. He defeated GM Aleksej Aleksandrov, followed it up with a victory over IM Akshay Borgaonkar, and then overcame Kannan Vaidyanathan in the decisive final round to complete his Grandmaster norm in style.A Rise Built on ConsistencyA player earns the Grandmaster title by securing three Grandmaster (GM) norms, each awarded for an exceptional performance in a qualifying tournament.Earlier in 2025, Aswath earned his first Grandmaster norm at the prestigious Grenke Open A in Germany. Remaining unbeaten with 8/9 points, he claimed the title on tie-breaks while producing a stunning 2779 performance rating.His second norm arrived in December 2025 at the First Saturday GM Round Robin in Budapest, where he once again finished with 7/9 points to top the standings.Now rated 2517 by FIDE, Aswath had already crossed the required 2500 Elo mark and earned the International Master title in 2023. The final norm was the last piece of the puzzle.India Marches Towards 100 GrandmastersAswath's achievement comes at a time when Indian chess is enjoying an unprecedented golden era. Only days after Harshavardhan G.B. became India's 97th Grandmaster, Aswath has pushed the nation one step closer to the landmark of 100 Grandmasters—a milestone that once seemed unimaginable. Currently studying at Velammal in Chennai and training under Grandmaster Shyam Sundar, Aswath has made it clear that chess will remain his professional pursuit.With calm nerves, relentless determination and years of disciplined preparation behind him, India's newest Grandmaster has proven that the biggest victories often come to those who refuse to panic when everything is on the line.