What helped Harikrishnan become India's 87th Grandmaster?
Making the leap from International Master (IM) to Grandmaster (GM), especially after the age of 20, is a demanding journey. It requires not only immense effort, determination, and adaptability, but also several other important factors. This article explores those factors that shape the final stretch from IM to GM, with the recent success of GM Harikrishnan as an example. He secured his 2nd and 3rd GM norms back-to-back at the Lince Andújar open and the La Plagne Open. This will offer valuable insights into what it truly takes to cross that final hurdle. Photo: Shyam Sundar
Harikrishnan becomes India's 87th Grandmaster
The newest name added to India's Grandmaster list is Harikrishnan A Ra. The 23-year-old from Chennai earned his final GM norm at the La Plagne Masters 2025 in France. He achieved what many players only dream of - securing back-to-back norms in just 15 days. He has consistently performed well in classical, rapid, and blitz formats. His long-awaited GM title is a truly well-deserved milestone.
Such achievements don't happen overnight. In fact, no success does. It's a result of efforts, decisions, and support at the right time. In Harikrishnan’s case, several key factors came together to make his dream a reality. Here is a look at what helped him achieve the GM title:
Family support
Family backing is crucial, as parents must first have faith in their child’s abilities. Many families struggle to decide whether their child should focus on academics or continue pursuing sports. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but sometimes, trusting the child’s passion and dedication and allowing them to follow their chosen path is the best approach. In Hari’s case, his family’s support allowed him to remain focused and hardworking, without distractions.
Financial support
Hari approached me towards the end of 2022 as a strong IM, but he didn’t have any sponsors. He attended almost all of my training camps—so much so that I’d be surprised if he ever missed one! To support himself, he also took up coaching, and we often discussed how to balance his own training with teaching others. I made sure that coaching wouldn’t distract him or affect his playing strength. Up to now, he, like the previous GM elect L.R.Srihari, has invested around 3 lakhs rupees in their training with me during this phase.
Self work
Maintaining motivation and consistently putting in effort on our own is a vital factor in reaching the next level. Although training with a coach is important, regularly working independently plays a significant role in developing one’s character and building strong work habits. Hari used to update me about his work almost on a daily basis for the past 2 years! We discuss various chess aspects quite frequently. The academy has around 10 to 15 players rated above 2300, who often share opening files and collaborate regularly. Hari dedicates a considerable amount of time to maintaining his fitness. He regularly plays badminton and also joins us in turf cricket in the evenings after our offline training camps!
Tournament selection
Picking the right tournaments and preparing for them is also a key factor. Eventually, I encouraged him to participate in 4-5 international tournaments, even if it meant traveling alone. This not only exposed him to new experiences but also helped him grow as a person. We were in regular contact, discussing chess strategies and life in general. Hari always set clear goals for himself and refused to come back home until he achieved them. Even after earning his GM title, he chose to stick to his tournament schedule instead of returning home immediately—a mindset that will surely take him even further.
Important links
GM Shyam Sundar's mission to make chess training affordable
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Harikrishnan A Ra becomes the 87th Grandmaster of India
@ 14/07/2025 by Shahid Ahmed (en) |