India’s Chess Explosion: Raahul V S Becomes the 91st Grandmaster, Securing Back-to-Back GM Titles!

The Grandmaster Factory: India Secures its 91st Grandmaster in Rapid Succession!

The Indian Chess Boom shows no signs of slowing down! Just one week after Illamparthi AR became the nation’s 90th Grandmaster, Raahul V S has delivered another monumental victory, clinching the 6th ASEAN Individual Championship with a round to spare and, in the process, becoming India’s 91st Grandmaster (GM)!

This back-to-back achievement underscores India’s unparalleled emergence as the true global chess powerhouse. At just 21 years old, Raahul V S has completed his journey from International Master (IM) in 2021 to securing the most prestigious title in chess, a testament to relentless hard work and the depth of talent rising from India.

The Unstoppable Rise of Indian Chess

The accomplishment of the 91st Grandmaster arrives amidst a historic golden era for the nation’s game, setting new benchmarks on the global stage:

• The Reigning Champion: India currently holds the ultimate title, with D. Gukesh becoming the youngest ever World Chess Champion at the age of 18 last year.
• The Top Tier Dominance: The latest FIDE Rankings feature an unprecedented four Indian players—Arjun Erigaisi, R. Praggnanandhaa, D. Gukesh, and the legend Viswanathan Anand—inside the Top 15. No other country boasts such collective high-level strength.
• Team and Title Success: The Indian Open and Women’s teams both secured Gold at the 45th Chess Olympiad last year. Furthermore, the FIDE Women’s World Cup saw an historic all-India final, with Divya Deshmukh triumphing over veteran Koneru Humpy.
• Home Base: India is currently hosting the prestigious FIDE World Cup in Goa, where multiple Indian Grandmasters are going strong despite recent upsets, demonstrating the depth of home-grown talent.

The Road Ahead for GM Raahul V S

Raahul’s triumph at the ASEAN Championship not only earned him the Grandmaster title but signals his arrival as a key player in India’s next generation. AICF President Nitin Narang’s heartfelt congratulations—*“Wishing you many more milestones ahead and continued success in making Bharat proud”—*reflects the national excitement.

With the 100 GM mark now firmly in sight, the speed at which India is churning out elite talent is unmatched. The combination of grassroots support, top-tier mentorship, and national success is creating a sustainable legacy that promises to keep India at the forefront of the world chess rankings for decades to come.

Join us in celebrating GM Raahul V S! The game is strong, and the future is Indian!