pranav anand: Bengaluru teen Pranav Anand becomes India’s 76th Chess Grandmaster

Bengaluru teenager Pranav Anand became India’s 76th Grandmaster after crossing the 2,500 Elo mark at the ongoing World Youth Chess Championship in Mamiya, Romania. The 15-year-old, who has already met other requirements required for the GM title, took home the honor late Thursday.

To become a GM, a player must secure three GM criteria and pass a live rating of 2,500 Elo Points.

Anand achieved the third and final GM criterion at the 55th Biel Chess Festival in Switzerland in July.

Anand’s coach V Saravanan told PTI, “He is passionate about chess. Very interested and passionate about the game. He can work any number of hours.”

“He is particularly good at calculations and final games… Those are his two biggest strengths right now,” Saravanan said of his ward’s ninth-round victory in the under-16 category of the 2022 World Youth Chess Championship.

“Also, the most important reason for Pranav’s achievement is the dedication of his family, his mother, father… He has spent so much time supporting and supporting him.”

“If the pandemic had not happened, Pranav could have become GM at least a year ago. He is one of the most talented kids I have ever met,” said the international master.

Anand achieved his third and final GM benchmark at Beale by drawing his game against number five GM Eduardo Iturizaga Bonelli (2619) in the final round.

He also defeated GM Maxime Lagarde (2631) of France, GM Sethuraman SP (2623), GM Aryan Chopra (2610) and GM Shant Sargsyan (2661) of Armenia in this event.

Their first two GM criteria came in the Sitges Open (in January 2022) and the Vejerkapso GM Round Robin (March 2022) tournament.

Originally published at Pen 18