Three IM-norms in less than 16 months
The former World Under-12 and Asian Junior Girls champion, Savitha Shri B first crossed 2400 in September before she became a WGM, let alone an IM. She became India no.3 among women, won a historic Bronze at World Rapid Women 2022. One thing is for sure, she will surely try to earn the coveted Grandmaster title.
First IM-norm: Fagernes GM Open 2023
Savitha scored her final WGM-norm at Fagernes GM Open 2023 in eight games. In the same event, she also earned her maiden IM-norm. The World Rapid Women 2022 Bronze medalist, defeated GM Sethuraman S P, IM Elham Abdulrauf (NOR) and drew with IM Erik Hedman (SWE). She scored 5/9 to become India's latest Woman Grandmaster.
Savitha - Sethuraman, Round 2
The above position seems like King's Indian Defence gone wrong for Black. The queen and knight are misplaced, White is controlling the a-file. 21...Rb8 only worsened things further 22.R1a2 White is biding her time Qe7 23.Nc3 Nd8 time to invade with the rook and attack the c7-pawn at the same time 24.Ra7 Rc8 25.c5 striking at the weakness. 25...bxc5 26.bxc5 fxe4 27.Nxe4 Nf7 28.R2a6 Rfd8 29.h4 dxc5?? 30.d6 Nxd6 and it's over as White can take 31.Nxd6. Black has no way to regain the material.
Second IM-norm: Norway Open 2023
WGM Savitha Shri B scored 7/10 at Norway Chess Open 2023 to earn her second IM-norm. She defeated IM Tor Fredrik Kaasen (NOR), drew with GM Davorin Kulsajevic (CRO) and GM Titas Stremavicius (LTU). The teenager also made an overall fifth place finish.
Savitha - Tor Fredrik, Round 10
34...a5 would have kept Black in the fight for a bit longer. 34...Rb6? dropped the pawn 35.a5 Rb8 36.Qxa6 Kg8 37.Qa7 Rf8 38.Qd7 Qg1+ 39.Ka2 Qg6 40.Qe6+ Qxe6 41.dxe6 and White went on to win the rook and opposite color bishop endgame.
Third IM-norm: Andorra Open 2024
WGM Savitha Shri B scored 6/9 at Andorra Open to secure her final IM-norm and become an International Master. She defeated IM Robert Baskin (GER), drew with GM Jaime Alexander Cuartas (COL), GM Omar Almeida Quintana (CUB), IM Giorgi Sibashvili (GEO) and IM Kirk Ghazarian (USA).
The twelve Indian woman who are International Masters - Subbaraman Vijayalakshmi (2001), Koneru Humpy, Harika Dronavalli (2007), Tania Sachdev (2008). Eesha Karavade (2010), Nisha Mohota (2011), Padmini Rout (2015), Bhakti Kulkarni (2019), Soumya Swaminathan (2020), R Vaishali (2021), Vantika Agrawal (2023) and Divya Deshmukh (2023). Humpy became a GM in 2002 directly when she was a WGM. Since she became a GM from WGM, it also means she has fulfilled all the requirements for an IM too.
