Rahul Srivatshav becomes India’s 74th GM

Rahul Srivatshav P of Telangana has become India’s 74^th Grandmaster, securing the title after breaking the 2500 (Elo points) barrier in live FIDE ratings during the 9^th Cattolica Chess Festival 2022 in Italy.

Rahul Srivatshav, 19, reached the 2500 Elo live rating mark following drawing his 8^th round game versus Grandmaster Levan Pantsulaia in the Cattolica event.

His existing Elo rating is 2468. Srivatshav had already achieved 5 GM norms and secured the title when he crossed the rating portal of 2500.

To become a GM, a player has to secure 3 GM norms and cross the live rating of 2500 Elo points.

“India one more step closer to getting 100 Grandmasters! Meet our newest addition to the elite club, 19-year-old Rahul Srivatshav from Telangana, India’s 74th Grandmaster! A big congratulations to Rahul, his coach and family!,” All India Chess Federation president Sanjay Kapoor cited on Twitter.

Bharath Subramaniyam had become the country’s 73^rd GM in January. The virtuoso Viswanathan Anand is India’s first GM, which he became back in 1988.