RITHVIK IS RAJA!
Telangana teen becomes chess Grand Master
Telangana’s Raja Rithvik has become a Grand Master in the Vezerkepzo Grandmaster Tournament being held from in Budapest, Hungary.
One of the world’s best talents, Rithvik is the 70th Grand Master from India.
Rithvik got the prestigious title by crossing the required milestone of Rating Points of 2500 in the Vezerkepzo Grandmaster Tournament. Entering the tournament with live rating of 2496 (needing four points to become GM), Raja Rithvik achieved five ELO points in four rounds and got a live rating of 2501 much to the delight of the chess community.
Playing with white pieces in the fourth round, Rithvik defeated FIDE Master Finek Vaclav of Czechoslovakia in 57 moves and reached the live rating of 2501.
Rithvik is a Class XII student at Bhavan’s Sri Ramakrishna Vidyalaya in Sainikpuri, Hyderabad.
The 17-year-old had achieved his third GM Norm by scoring 7 points out of 9 rounds in the previous event — the First Saturday Grandmaster Round Robin Tournament in Budapest, Hungary that concluded on Thursday. Rithvik remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, registering five wins and four draws against top players from Hungary, Slovakia and Singapore including three Grand Masters among others.
Apart from achieving his 3rd GM Norm, Rithvik also clinched the title, which improved his rating of 2483 by 13 points to reach a live rating of 2496
Rithvik, is native of Warangal and has been undergoing advanced coaching at RACE Chess Academy under N.V.S. Rama Raju.
As per the World Chess Federation Regulations, for becoming a Grand Master, a player has to get three GM Norms in three different international tournaments and should cross the ELO rating of 2500. Raja Rithvik had got three GM Norms in various International Tournaments as follows:
(i) In December 2019, Rithvik got
Rithvik achieved the prestigious Grand Master title by crossing the required milestone of Rating Points of 2500 in the Vezerkepzo Grandmaster Tournament. Entering the tournament with live rating of 2496 and needing four points to become GM, the 17-year-old achieved 5 ELO points in four rounds and got a live rating of 2501.
his 1st GM Norm at the Elllobregat International Open Championship in Spain.
(ii) On August 29, 2021, Rithvik got his 2nd GM Norm at the Skalica International Open Championship in Slovakia.
(iii) On September 14, 2021, Rithvik achieved his 3rd GM Norm at the First Saturday GM RR Tournament at Budapest, Hungary. He has achieved a rare feat of getting two GM Norms within a span of 20 days in successive tournaments, in August and September 2021.
Telangana State Chess Association president K. S. Prasad congratulated Rithvik. “It’s a great achievement. I hope Rithvik will bring many more laurels to the country with his magnificent performance,” he said.