Journey of Karnataka’s first Woman Grandmaster Isha Sharma
In a milestone moment for Karnataka and Indian chess, Isha Sharma has become the state’s first and the country’s 27th Woman Grandmaster. She scored her final IM norm at the IM RR SahArt in Subotica, Serbia, on 14th November. The title came after a long wait of two years and three months. She had previously broken ground as Karnataka’s first Woman International Master, and this achievement adds a new chapter to her journey. She has amazing support from her family and her partner, Sharan Rao, with whom she tied the knot in May this year. She hopes her journey inspires other young players in Karnataka to dream bigger and work harder. Read the article to explore her full journey. Photo: Sagar Shah
Karnataka's first and India's 27th Woman Grandmaster
On 14 November 2025, in Subotica, Serbia, Isha Sharma completed the final requirement for the Woman Grandmaster title. More than a personal achievement, it was a historic milestone for Karnataka. With this final norm, Isha became the first Woman Grandmaster from the state and the 27th Woman Grandmaster of India. She achieved this success after years of self-belief. In fact, the turning point of her title journey came more than two years earlier.
“Becoming Karnataka’s first WGM makes me genuinely happy because it feels like breaking an important threshold. But more than anything, I see it as just the beginning for our state. Karnataka has so many talented young girls coming up, and I hope this achievement shows them that international titles are absolutely within reach,” Isha said.
The beginning of a passion
Isha’s love for chess began at a school summer camp conducted by Derik’s Chess School. It was her mother who encouraged her to pursue the game seriously. She grew up in a small town called Belthangady in Karnataka. She had to travel a long way to participate in tournaments. This instilled discipline and independence in her very early on. “My junior years were full of tough tournaments where I lost a lot more than I won, but those experiences made me resilient. The exposure to stronger players pushed me to work harder,” Isha shared.
The path to the WGM title
Isha made her first WGM norm in Slovakia Open Piestany 2022. In the same event she crossed the 2300 rating mark and met another crucial requirement for the title. A year later, in 2023, she scored her second WGM norm in Morocco at the 4th S M le Roi Mohammed VI Crown. With this, two norms were completed, rating criteria was achieved, and only one final norm was left. Then came the long stretch that many title-seekers know too well! There were events where everything worked smoothly and others where nothing seemed to fall in place. Strong games did not always turn into norms, and several promising chances slipped away by small margins.
Talking about the challenging period that followed, Isha said, “When I earned my WIM title, I assumed my WGM journey would follow the same pattern, but after the second norm, things slowed down unexpectedly, and the long gap was honestly very disheartening. What kept me going were my parents. Their constant motivation and belief in me during that phase played a huge role in helping me stay focused mentally and continue professionally.” More than two years and three months passed before the breakthrough finally arrived.
The final push in Subotica
Isha’s last norm came at the IM Round Robin SahArt Subotica tournament in Serbia. She travelled with her husband, IM Sharan Rao, who acted as her second. She had prepared some strategic game plans. Her aim was to surprise her opponents before they could surprise her. While she faced a tough loss on the third day, she achieved outstanding results against the grandmasters. She defeated GM Borko Lajthajm of Serbia and GM Sinisa Drazic, and she held GM Nikola Sedlak to a draw. Her overall performance rating was 2416. She finished third in the event and gained 53 Elo points. What a powerful, steady and confident finish! This sealed her title.
Coaching, Mentorship, and Mental Strength
Isha credits her success to the guidance of multiple coaches over the years. FM Aravind Shastry developed her calculation abilities, K V Shantharam built a solid foundation on the following principles, and GM Michael Orotovsky strengthened her openings. Visweswaran Sir instilled discipline in all aspects of training, while GM Gopal and GM Enamul Hossain provided new ideas and kept her motivated. Such strong guidance laid the foundation for this historic achievement!
Following a strict routine is most of the time helpful in staying calm and focused during tournaments. Isha does the same. Before each round, she prepares thoroughly and ensures she is mentally in the zone. After games, she quickly reviews the highlights and then switches off to relax!
Partnership On and Off the Board
Being married to a fellow chess player has been both fun and challenging for Isha. “Our approaches to chess are very different, which actually strengthens our coaching. During my recent norm run, Sharan’s support was invaluable. He kept me relaxed, stress-free, and confident,” she explained. Together, they run Rao’s Chess Corner, where Sharan handles business aspects while Isha focuses on technical coaching. They aim to build a strong chess culture in Mangalore. They run online and offline programs, FIDE-rated tournaments, and provide great opportunities for players of all ages.
Karnataka has produced many strong players, but the WGM title had remained unclaimed until now. Isha’s achievement is a breakthrough for the state and an inspiration for hundreds of young players who dream of making their mark in Indian chess.
“If my journey inspires even a few of them to dream bigger and stay committed to the game, that would mean the world to me,” she said.
For aspiring players looking to improve their game, Isha has also recommended a few books that helped her build strong fundamentals and a deeper understanding of chess strategy.
Zurich International Chess Tournament, 1953 by David Bronstein.
|
Isha Sharma becomes Karnataka's first and India's 27th Woman Grandmaster
@ 21/11/2025 by Shahid Ahmed (en) |