Senthil Maran K becomes the latest International Master of India

by Shahid Ahmed - 28/08/2024

FM Senthil Maran K became the latest International Master of India. The 25-year-old crossed the 2400 and earned his final IM-norm at the same event - Slovakia Open Piestany 2024. The Chennai lad got a published rating of 2411 in the August FIDE Rating list. The first IM-norm was scored at 26th Abu Dhabi Masters 2019 in UAE. Almost four years later, he secured his second IM-norm at 96th Paris IdF Masters 2023. Exactly a year later he earned his final IM-norm with a round to spare on 16th July in Slovakia. When he defeated GM Titas Stremavicius (LTU) in the third round, he surpassed 2400 in the live ratings. Senthil's journey will continue towards the coveted GM title. Photo: Aditya Sur Roy

Final IM-norm and 2400+ at the same event

"It's one of my parents' mission, so I felt very happy. Still need to get the GM title and should cross 2600." - IM Senthil Maran K on what the IM title means to him. "I started playing chess when I was ten-years-old. My dad taught me about chess. After few days he realized that I was playing well. So he sent me to an academy. Gunasekaran sir was my first coach in Chennai. He is also a FIDE Master, working in ICF. Now currently, GM Vishnu Prasanna is my trainer and mentor. So special thanks to him." - Senthil on how he started his journey in chess.

Senthil Maran K became India's latest International Master at Slovakia Chess Open Piestany 2024 | Photo: Aditya Sur Roy

Interview with Senthil Maran K after becoming International Master | Video: ChessBase India

First IM-norm: 26th Abu Dhabi Masters 2019

Senthil scored his first IM-norm at 26th Abu Dhabi Masters 2019. He defeated GM Temur Kuybokarov (AUS) and GM Kirill Shevchenko (UKR), drew with GM Petr Kiriakov (RUS) and then IM Arjun Kalyan. He scored 4.5/9, performed at 2492 and gained 56.8 Elo rating points.

Senthil - Kuybokarov, Round 1

Position after 28...Qb6?

28...Qb6? hastened Black's demise. 29.Qxb6 cxb6 30.Rc7 Rfe7 31.exf5 h6 32.Bd3 White soon gained another pawn and went on to use the extra pawns to his advantage and win the game.

Senthil makes his maiden IM-norm on his fifth trip at Abu Dhabi | Video: ChessBase India

FM Senthil Maran K drew with then WIM Divya Deshmukh in the final round to earn his first IM-norm | Photo: Rupali Mullick

Senthil Maran K scored 4.5/9, performed at 2492 and gained 56.8 Elo rating points en route his first IM-norm

Second IM-norm: 96th Paris Idf Masters 2023

Nearly four years later, Senthil scored his second IM-norm at 96th Parid IdF Masters 2023. He defeated IM Yovann Gatineau (FRA) and drew with IM C R G Krishna. Senthil scored 5.5/9 and finished eighth overall.

FM Senthil Maran K with his second IM-norm certificate at 96th Paris IdF Masters 2023 | Photo: idF-Echecs

FM Senthil Maran K scored 5.5/9, performed at 2450 to earn his second IM-norm and increased his Elo rating by 40.2 points

Third IM-norm and Elo rating 2400+ : Slovakia Piestany Open 2024

A year later exactly on the same day, 16th July 2024, FM Senthil Maran K earned his final IM-norm with a round to spare become an International Master. In the third round, he defeated GM Titas Stremavicius (LTU) to cross 2400 in the live ratings. Later in August FIDE Rating list, he got a published rating of 2411. Senthil also defeated IM Harikrishnan A Ra at the same event.

Senthil - Titas, Round 3

Position after 25.c5

GM Titas Stremavicius (LTU, 2538) made the mistake of playing 24...Qd6? 25.c5 Qf6 26.Re8 gave White complete control Re7 27.Rxe7 Qxe7 28.Nxd4 Qf6 29.Qc4+ Kg7 30.Re1 Bd7 31.Nxf3 Qxf3 32.Re7+ Kh6 33.Qd4 and White won.

Senthil Maran K during one of his games | Photo: Slovakia Chess Open

Senthil Maran K scored 5.5/9, performed at 2461, gained 23.2 elo rating poinst to cross 2400 and also earn his final IM-norm to become India's latest IM