India’s chess boom leads to a title crisis: Why becoming a Grandmaster is harder than ever in the country?

The traditional route involved competing in tournaments, steadily increasing one’s rating, and eventually meeting the minimum rating requirements for titles. While this path is still the same, India is no longer the ideal place to achieve these milestones.

Two key reasons

This massive shift came from two key factors. First, Indian players are generally underrated as the country still lacks sufficient chess events, meaning players often compete in fewer competitive matches. This results in their ratings stagnating even as their skills improve, thanks to a far stronger coaching ecosystem. And second, the overall increased competition.

Kolkata’s IM Aronyak Ghosh exemplifies the current challenges in India’s chess circuit. Ghosh completed two GM norms and crossed the 2500-rating mark (a requirement for the GM title) three years ago in 2022, but since then, he has struggled to secure his final norm.

“In India, it is virtually impossible to make a GM norm,” says Ghosh, who is competing at the 21st Delhi International Open. “Most Open events allow players below 2000 rating, bringing the average rating down, which makes fulfilling GM norm criteria very difficult. Technically, it’s still possible, if you score 10/10 or 9/10, you might get a norm,” he adds. This is why many budding talents choose to go abroad, playing four to five tournaments in a row to boost their ratings while chasing title norms. “You can increase your rating anywhere. If you play well here (Delhi Open), you can improve your rating, but for norms, you need to go abroad and that’s very expensive,” says Ghosh.

Hard to find higher-rated opponents

For IM Neelash Saha, another Bengal-based player, it’s not the norms but the average rating that’s eluding him from the GM title. Saha already has three GM norms, including one from the Bengaluru Open.Saha’s rise in chess was rapid. Within six months of being an untitled player, he became an International Master. Interestingly, his final IM norm came at the same Delhi Open in 2019.

“Playing in India isn’t just about facing underrated players, it’s also the sheer number of participants. It’s hard to find higher-rated opponents, which is crucial for norms. If I recall correctly, only three or four norms have been awarded in India in the past three years across all tournaments,” explains Saha. “The main issue is that if your rating is above 2350, you end up facing many lower-rated players first, which hurts your average rating, a key requirement for norms,” he adds. “There have been closed invitational tournaments, but most focus on IM titles and norms,” says Saha.

Perks of being a GM

It’s also important to understand what the GM title means to players. “Once you become a GM, you get invitations, appearance fees, and more, the whole outlook changes,” says Ghosh.

One IM at the Delhi Open, speaking anonymously, says, “Just to give you an example, take this tournament. The GMs are staying at Tivoli Gardens, a five-star hotel, while the IMs were placed elsewhere. I spoke to a few IMs, and two said they moved to a different hotel at their own expense because of poor conditions in the allotted one. It’s logical for organisers — they can’t provide the same accommodations to IMs given their rising numbers in India,” he adds. “It’s about respect. Many GMs are lower-rated than me but are treated much better. Ultimately, it comes down to the respect tied to the GM title,” he concludes.

Chess can’t be elite

If Open events in India pose so many challenges for higher-rated players, why do organisers continue holding them in this format? Why not restrict participation to stronger players to ensure better norm opportunities?

“You can’t exclude lower-rated players just to benefit the top few. You can’t say, ‘He’s under 2000, so let’s not take him.’ A lower-rated player might defy expectations… an 1800-rated girl, for instance, could earn a WIM norm if she performs exceptionally well. Open events aren’t just for GMs; they’re for everyone,” explains International Arbiter Swapnil Bansod.

Gopakumar Sudhakaran, one of the organisers, says: “We’re not just catering to the elite. We’re focusing on the masses, the pool from which future elites emerge. Praggnanandhaa once played in Category C and B at the Delhi Open before rising to the top. Another Praggnanandhaa might be playing in Category C today. We have to think holistically, not just about one stratum.”

He also highlights a psychological barrier among mid-tier players: “Look at the numbers in this event. Players rated 2000–2300 are far fewer compared to those below 1800. Many fear losing to lower-rated opponents, which could dent their ratings significantly.”

“Consider the lower-rated player who chooses Category A over an easier pool in B or C. They’re challenging themselves, prioritising growth over prize money by facing stronger opponents. That’s how progress happens.”

Addressing common concerns, Gopakumar adds: “There’s a genuine fear of losing rating points – I understand that. This is why so many foreign players hesitate to compete in India. But if you’re higher-rated, you’re supposed to beat lower-rated players, right? The first-place prize money of ₹7 lakh in the A category at Delhi Open is much higher compared to many Open events worldwide. We’ve addressed the low prize money issue that top players often cite. Ultimately, it comes down to their performance.”