Chola Chess 2026: Can Indian Players Secure IM and GM Norms?

by Devansh Singh - 26/06/2026

With each passing round at the Chola Chess IM and GM Norm Tournament, some players are closing in on a norm, while others are running out of time. In the GM Group, Harshavardhan G B scored an important win over Kushagra Mohan to stay in the race for GM Norm. In the IM Group, Aarit Kapil scored a second consecutive win after defeating Arshpreet Singh with black pieces. Chances of IM Norms are higher, and with just 3 rounds to go, players are going to be all in now. Photos: Devansh Singh

All-In? or Play it safe?

Players are in a tricky situation in both groups. In the GM group, only Harshavardhan GB and Harsh Suresh are in the race, but the path is very difficult. Harshvardhan needs 2.5/3 to reach a norm, and he is facing 3 Grandmasters in the final 3 games. For Harsh Suresh, things are even trickier as he needs to win all 3 games to score a norm. Practically, things are looking tough for these players. Will they go all-in in the 7th round, or will they play it safe?

FM Aarit Kapil

In the post-match interview, Aarit talked about his strategy for the upcoming rounds

GM Group

Michal Krasenkow's domination continues in the GM Group as he scored another win of the tournament, making it his 3rd in a row to reach 5.5/6. In the 6th round, he defeated IM Ajay Santhosh Parvathareddy, and with this loss, Ajay's chances are over. IM Harshavardhan GB scored a big win over IM Kushagra Mohan. IM Harsh Suresh drew against IM Bala Chandra Prasad Dhulipalla, in another decisive result, IM Anuj Shrivatri won against IM Antoine Bournel.

The domination continues with 5.5/6

Kushagra Mohan - Harshavardhan G B

Can you find the best move that Kushagra missed here? White to play and hold the position

IM Kushagra Mohan loses to IM Harshavardhan GB

Anuj won against Antoine in a sharp, complex battle

Michal Krasnekow vs. Ajay Santhosh Parvathareddy (1-0)

Bala Chandra Prasad Dhulipalla vs. Harsh Suresh (0.5-0.5)

Alexei Fedorov and Mihail Nikitenko made a quick draw

Replay Round 6 Games

GM Round 6 Results

Bo.	FED	Rtg		White	Result		Black	FED	Rtg	PGN
1	IND	2432	IM	Dhulipalla, Bala Chandra Prasad	½ - ½	IM	Harsh, Suresh	IND	2435	PGN
2	IND	2483	IM	Anuj, Shrivatri	1 - 0	IM	Bournel, Antoine	FRA	2430	PGN
3	IND	2456	IM	Kushagra, Mohan	0 - 1	IM	Harshavardhan, G B	IND	2493	PGN
4	POL	2483	GM	Krasenkow, Michal	1 - 0	IM	Ajay, Santhosh Parvathareddy	IND	2503	PGN
5	BLR	2388	GM	Fedorov, Alexei	½ - ½	GM	Nikitenko, Mihail	BLR	2479	PGN

Details

Standings after 6 Rounds

Rk.		Name	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3
1	GM	Krasenkow, Michal	POL	2483	5,5	0	15,25	5
2	IM	Harshavardhan, G B	IND	2493	4	0	8,25	2
3	IM	Harsh, Suresh	IND	2435	3,5	1	10,25	1
4	GM	Nikitenko, Mihail	BLR	2479	3,5	2	6,5	3
5	GM	Fedorov, Alexei	BLR	2388	3	0	7,5	1
6	IM	Ajay, Santhosh Parvathareddy	IND	2503	3	0	6,75	1
7	IM	Dhulipalla, Bala Chandra Prasad	IND	2432	2,5	0	6,5	0
8	IM	Anuj, Shrivatri	IND	2483	2,5	0	6	1
9	IM	Kushagra, Mohan	IND	2456	1,5	0	5,5	0
10	IM	Bournel, Antoine	FRA	2430	1	0	3	0

Details

GM Round 7 Pairings

Bo.	FED	Rtg		White	Result		Black	FED	Rtg
1	BLR	2479	GM	Nikitenko, Mihail		IM	Dhulipalla, Bala Chandra Prasad	IND	2432
2	IND	2503	IM	Ajay, Santhosh Parvathareddy		GM	Fedorov, Alexei	BLR	2388
3	IND	2493	IM	Harshavardhan, G B		GM	Krasenkow, Michal	POL	2483
4	FRA	2430	IM	Bournel, Antoine		IM	Kushagra, Mohan	IND	2456
5	IND	2435	IM	Harsh, Suresh		IM	Anuj, Shrivatri	IND	2483

Details

IM Group

Aarit Kapil is marching towards his IM Norm as well as clinching the tournament. In the 5th round, he defeated Daakshin Arun, and now in the 6th round, he defeated Arshpreet Singh to stay in a joint lead. It was a day of decisive results as there was no draw in IM Group. De Silva defeated Oshini, Daakshin Arun won against Pranav KP, Madhvendra defeated Madhesh, and Aleksandrov scored another win to stay in a joint lead against Gochelashvili.

Arshpreet Singh vs. Aarit Kapil (0-1)

Arshpreet Singh vs. Aarit Kapil

White to play and draw, (Hint: Overloaded Piece)

Madhvendra Pratap Sharma won a nice bishop endgame against Madhesh Kumar S

Daakshin Arun vs. Pranav KP (1-0)

David Gochelashvili vs. Aleksej Aleksandrov (0-1)

Devindya Oshini lost to De Silva L M S T

Replay Round 6 Games

IM Round 6 Results

Bo.	FED	Rtg		White	Result		Black	FED	Rtg	PGN
1	SRI	2340	WIM	Gunawardhana, Devindya Oshini	0 - 1	IM	De Silva, L M S T	SRI	2382	PGN
2	RUS	2275	IM	Gochelashvili, David	0 - 1	GM	Aleksandrov, Aleksej	BLR	2433	PGN
3	IND	2308	FM	Daakshin, Arun	1 - 0	FM	Pranav, K P	IND	2308	PGN
4	IND	2337	FM	Arshpreet, Singh	0 - 1	FM	Aarit, Kapil	IND	2331	PGN
5	IND	2373	FM	Madhvendra, Pratap Sharma	1 - 0	FM	Madhesh, Kumar S	IND	2315	PGN

Details

Standings after 6 Rounds

Rk.	SNo		Name	FED	Rtg	Club/City	Pts.	TB2	TB3	TB4
1	5	FM	Aarit, Kapil	IND	2331	DEL	4,5	14,25	3	1
2	7	GM	Aleksandrov, Aleksej	BLR	2433	BLR	4,5	11,75	4	3
3	1	FM	Daakshin, Arun	IND	2308	TN	4	8,25	3	1
4	2	FM	Arshpreet, Singh	IND	2337	HAR	3,5	8,5	3	0
5	8	IM	De Silva, L M S T	SRI	2382	SRI	3,5	7,25	2	1
6	3	FM	Madhvendra, Pratap Sharma	IND	2373	MP	3	6	2	0
7	9	IM	Gochelashvili, David	RUS	2275	RUS	2,5	6,5	1	1
8	4	FM	Madhesh, Kumar S	IND	2315	PON	2	7,25	1	0
9	6	FM	Pranav, K P	IND	2308	TN	1,5	2,25	1	1
10	10	WIM	Gunawardhana, Devindya Oshini	SRI	2340	SRI	1	4,5	1	0

Details

IM Round 7 Pairings

Bo.	FED	Rtg		White	Result		Black	FED	Rtg
1	IND	2315	FM	Madhesh, Kumar S		WIM	Gunawardhana, Devindya Oshini	SRI	2340
2	IND	2331	FM	Aarit, Kapil		FM	Madhvendra, Pratap Sharma	IND	2373
3	IND	2308	FM	Pranav, K P		FM	Arshpreet, Singh	IND	2337
4	BLR	2433	GM	Aleksandrov, Aleksej		FM	Daakshin, Arun	IND	2308
5	SRI	2382	IM	De Silva, L M S T		IM	Gochelashvili, David	RUS	2275

Details

Photo Gallery: Here

The most charismatic guy of the tournament: IM Antoine Bournel (France)

Can Harshvardhan score 2.5/3?

Video Gallery

In the 6th round of the 1st Chola Chess IM Norm Round Robin Tournament, Aarit played against Arshpreet Singh. After the game, Aarit analysed the game in depth and talked about his strategy in this tournament.

FM Madhvendra Pratap Sharma got paired against one of the brightest talents of Sri Lanka, WIM Devindya Oshini Gunawardhana, in the 5th round of the 1st Chola Chess IM Norm RR Tournament. Madhvendra showed tremendous knight endgame skills in this battle. Check out the game.

Points Required for Norm

As per the regulations and rating average of the tournament, 6 points are required to score an IM norm, while 6.5 for a GM Norm.

Lineup

GM Norm (L to R): GM Mihail Nikitenko, GM Alexei Fedorov, IM G B Harshavardhan, IM Bala Chandra Prasad Dhulipalla, IM Antoine Bourne, IM Santhosh Parvathareddy Ajay, IM Kushagra Mohan, IM Shrivatri Anuj, IM Suresh Harsh, and GM Michal Krasenkow.

Participants of the GM Round Robin

IM Norm (L to R): GM Aleksej Aleksandrov, IM David Gochelashvili, IM L M S T De Silva, FM Kapil Aarit, FM Singh Arshpreet, FM Pratap Sharma Madhvendra, FM Kumar S Madhesh, FM Arun Daakshin, and FM K P Pranav. WIM Devindya Oshini Gunawardhana was on her flight and will catch up soon!