Sanket Chakravarty becomes the latest International Master of India
Sanket Chakravarty scored three IM-norms and crossed 2400 in a little over 4.5 months to become India's latest International Master. The 18-year-old from Kolkata earned his maiden IM-norm at Fagernes GM Open 2023 in April. Exactly two months later, he earned his second IM-norm at 2nd Maharashtra GM Open 2023. The teenager got a published rating of 2411 in July 2023 FIDE Rating list. At 29th Abu Dhabi Masters 2023, he earned his final IM-norm to become an IM. From January this year, Sanket started training with one of the most successful chess coaches of the world, GM Aleksander Goloshchapov (UKR). That has certainly made a huge impact in his game, as he mentioned it in an interview. Sanket's quest towards the coveted GM title continues. Photo: Anniken Vestby
Three IM-norms and 2400+ in a little over 4.5 months
Sanket Chakravarty started the year with 2367 rating and no IM-norms. He enrolled himself in GM Aleksander Goloshchapov's classes. Eight months later, he secured three IM-norms and got a published 2411 rating to become India's latest IM. Choosing the right coach as per your goals makes a huge difference. Sanket is certainly a prime example of that. Earlier he used to get close to making norms but on multiple occasion he missed it. Since April of this year, he started making norms.
First IM-norm: Fagernes GM Open 2023
Sanket Chakravarty scored his first IM-norm at Fagernes GM Open 2023 in April. He scored 5/9, including a win over then IM Prraneeth Vuppala, IM Jonas Hacker (GER), draws against GM Monika Socko (POL), IM Kushagra Mohan and IM Sambit Panda.
Prraneeth - Sanket, Round 2
In a sharp position, then IM Prraneeth Vuppala (2437) made a slight inaccuracy 34.Bb3? His opponent, Sanket Chakravarty (2327) seized his opportunity 34...f3! 35.gxf3 Rg3 36.Qe6 Qxb4 37.Qf5?? worsened things further R8g5 38.Qc8+ Ka7 39.Bd5 Nxf3 and Black won the game in the next few moves.
Second IM-norm: 2nd Maharashtra GM Open 2023
Sanket secured his second IM-norm exactly two months later at 2nd Maharashtra GM Open 2023. He defeated GM Boris Savchenko, drew against GM Vladimir Burmakin, GM Luka Paichadze (GEO), GM Viacheslav V Zakhartsov, IM Viani Antonio Dcunha and IM Kushagra Mohan.
Sanket - Savchenko, Round 11
GM Boris Savchenko (2524) decided against going for perpetual check, on two different occasion and blundered 44...Qd1?? Find out the correct continuation for White. Sanket Chakravarty (2389) found it and went on to win the game. This win earned him his second IM-norm, crossed 2400 in the live ratings and also got him Best Game of Round 11 prize.
Third IM-norm: 29th Abu Dhabi Masters 2023
A little over two and a half months later, Sanket scored his final IM-norm at 29th Abu Dhabi Massters 2023. He scored 4.5/9 to secure his final IM-norm. Sanket scored wins over IM Ahmad Ahmadzada (AZE) and IM Jubin Jimmy, drew against GM Di Li (CHN), GM Stany G A, GM Pranav Anand and IM Arystanbek Urazayev (KAZ) with a performance of 2488.
Sanket - Ahmad, Round 2
Sanket Chakravarty's (2385) plan is simple. March the king down the board and use the rooks to deliver the checkmate which is what he did in the game against IM Ahmad Ahmadzada (AZE, 2519). Black needed to prevent the king's advances 33...h6 34.Kxh6 Re6+ 35.Kh5 Rf3 would have been fine. 33...Re2 34.Rg5+ Kf8 35.h4 Ree3 36.g4 Rab3 37.Kh6 f6 38.Rgg7 Re4 39.Kxh7 and it's over as the checkmate is unstoppable.
We had two long sessions with GM Aleksander Goloshchapov on our channel. Replay them here:
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