Telangana's Raja Rithvik bags 1st GM Norm

Hyderabad: International Master R. Raja Rithvik of Hyderabad received 1st GM Norm (Grand Master Norm) in the Elllobregat International Open Chess Championship 2019 held at Spain held from December 2 to 12.

Raja Rithvik, a class 10 student of Orchids International School, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, got his 1st GM Norm by scoring 6 points out of 9 rounds. He registered 3 wins and 6 draws while playing against top players from countries like Georgia, Spain, Argentina and Israel.

In this prestigious championship, Rithvik has played against six Grand Masters and defeated one GM and drew with five GMs.

He played against 2 IMs and defeated one IM and drew with another IM. Raja Rithvik, thus has got the distinction of being the undefeated player in the tournament.

In the 2nd round itself Raja Rithvik created sensation by defeating the reputed Spain Grand Master Narciso Dublan Marc, a press release said on Thursday.

Interestingly, Raja Rithvik playing with white pieces, on 21st move, sacrificed his Bishop and Rook and captured the black Queen in the middle of the Board and eventually checkmated the Senior Grand Master on 34th move.

Further in 4th round, playing attackingly with black pieces, he defeated IM Sosa Tomas (Argentina) in 38 moves very convincingly.

Further, Rithvik drew his games against Grand Masters who are much higher rated players such as GM Arizmendi Martinez Julen Luis (Spain), GM Alonso Rosell Alvar (Spain), GM Del Rio De Angelis Salvador (Spain) and IM Zana Evgeny (Israel).

With his superb performance in this tournament, Raja Rithvik has not only improved his rating by 26 points from 2,381 to 2.407 but also clinched his 1st GM Norm in Elllobregat International Open 2019, Spain which is one of the biggest International Chess Championships conducted in Spain.

Around 130 players including 20 Grand Masters and 35 International Masters from 28 countries such as Russia, Germany, India, China, France, Ukraine, Poland, Israel, Singapore, Georgia, Argentina participated in the tournament.

Coach N.V.S. Rama Raju, with whom Raja Rithvik has been undergoing advanced coaching at RACE Chess Academy, said: "Considering his age of only 15 years, it is an excellent achievement and he will bring many more laurels to the country".

A. Venkateswar Reddy, chairman, Sports Authority of Telangana State (SATS), Dinakar Babu (VC & MD), SATS, A. Narasimha Reddy, president of Telangana State Chess Association (TSCA) and K S Prasad, TSCA General Secretary congratulated Raja Rithvik for winning his first Grand Master Norm in Spain and hoped that Rithvik will become a Grand Master soon.

Earlier in July this year, Raja Rithvik has bagged the Under-15 National title in Erode, Tamilnadu. It is pertinent to note that, last year he become the youngest International Master from Telangana at the age of 14 years.

In due recognition of his excellent performances at international level, the World Chess Federation (FIDE) had conferred the prestigious title of 'International Master' on Raja Rithvik in 2018.

The 'FIDE Master' title was conferred in 2017 and 'Candidate Master' title in the year 2014.

Raja Rithvik has also created history by winning five gold medals in Asian Chess Championship-2018, Thailand. At the age of 13, he achieved a rare feat of winning two National Championships in 2017 Under-13 Championship at Jalandhar and Under-17 Championship at Coimbatore.

He has also won silver medal at the Commonwealth Chess Championship-2012, gold medals in Asian Chess Championships conducted at Singapore (2015), Bangkok (2014), Sri Lanka (2013).