Dhruva Thota becomes the latest International Master from Hyderabad
16-year-old Dhruva Thota is the latest International Master from Hyderabad. His first IM norm came at the Six Days Chess Tournament in Budapest in November 2023, followed soon after by his second at the Chessable Sunway Sitges International Festival in Spain. Two years later, he added his third norm at the Annemasse Chess Tournament in France in October 2025 and sealed the title at the RUDAR XLIII IM Round Robin in Serbia in November 2025. He also finished first in the tournament with a score of 7.5/9. His journey now moves toward the Grandmaster title. Photo: Aditya Sur Roy
Dhruva Thota becomes an International Master
Sixteen-year-old Dhruva Thota from Hyderabad, India has officially completed all requirements for the International Master title. He completed his final norm in November at the RUDAR XLIII – IM Round Robin tournament in Serbia. After years of belief and sacrifices, this title is a reward for Dhruva and his family. It has also given him the confidence to aim at the next big step, which is the Grandmaster title.
Dhruva was born on 28 February 2009 in Hyderabad. His journey into chess began in a classroom. At Delhi School of Excellence, Attapur, he attended a weekly chess class every Thursday. He was very young, but something about the board caught his interest. Soon, he began playing casually with his father after school. For him, it was a fun indoor activity. As he started solving small puzzles and playing more often, he fell in love with chess!
His parents enrolled him in Maestro Chess Academy in Attapur. His first formal coach was Amithpal Singh, who trained children in weekend beginner classes. Those sessions gave Dhruva a strong foundation and helped him understand how chess really works. Dhruva’s parents slowly began to realise that their son had immense talent. Even with limited training, he started defeating older and more experienced players in local events. A memorable moment came during the Brilliant Chess Tournament, where he outperformed higher-rated players.
Dhruva's Remarkable Rise: From 1040 to International Master
Dhruva joined Maestro Chess Academy in 2018 with a rating of 1040. Under the guidance of our expert coaches, including Vikramjit Singh and Shashikant Kutwal, he has evolved into an exceptionally talented and passionate chess enthusiast. His dedication and hard work have propelled him to achieve the prestigious title of International Master. Dhruva's impressive memory, which enables him to recall numerous classical games, has been a significant factor in his success.
As Dhruva improved, the family’s routine also had to change. His father works as a Government Veterinarian in Telangana, so balancing work, official duties and Dhruva’s chess schedule was not always easy. Planning trips, taking leave, applying for visas, arranging hotels and managing expenses became a regular responsibility for him. But every effort felt worthwhile when they saw Dhruva remain focused, motivated and genuinely in love with the game.
Dhruva earned all the norms needed for the International Master title through four major tournaments.
First norm: Six Days Chess Tournament, Budapest, November 2023
His first norm came at the Six Days Chess Tournament November 2023 in Budapest. He showed a very strong performance by defeating players higher rated than him. His performance rating stood at an impressive 2434, and he finished the tournament in first place! He gained an impressive 115 rating points from this event, scored 7/9 and made a major breakthrough in his IM journey.
Second norm: Chessable Sunway Sitges International Festival, Spain, December 2023
Dhruva earned his second IM norm immediately after the first at the Chessable Sunway Sitges International Festival in December 2023. He entered the tournament with a rating of 2182 and was seeded 137th in a very strong open field. He scored an impressive 7 points, finished 21st overall, and performed at a rating of 2428.
Third norm: Annemasse Chess Tournament, France, October 2025
Dhruv secured his third IM norm at the Annemasse Chess Tournament in France in October 2025. He scored 6/9 points, performed at a rating of 2451 and gained 32.4 rating points from the event.
Fourth norm: RUDAR XLIII IM Round Robin, Serbia, November 2025
Dhruva earned an additional IM norm at the RUDAR XLIII IM Round Robin in Serbia in November 2025. Although only three norms are required for the International Master title, this performance proved decisive in completing all remaining requirements. He crossed the 2400 Elo rating mark, which is one of the mandatory requirements to be awarded the International Master title. He started as the ninth seed and finished first with a 7.5/9 score. His rating at the time was 2351, but he performed at a rating of 2515, gaining 34.8 rating points during the tournament. He remained undefeated throughout the event. It was a commendable performance in a strong field!
Many coaches have supported Dhruva along the way. GM Alexander Goloschapov from Ukraine has been an important mentor in shaping his understanding of the game. His first coach, CM Amithpal Singh, built his basics at Maestro Chess Academy. FM Vikramjit Singh and IM Shasikant Kutwal trained him online, while GM Ramesh RB and the Chola Chess Academy team guided him through camps. Several other international trainers also helped him with openings, preparation and game analysis. Dhruva and his family are truly grateful to each one of them.
Their gratitude extends beyond coaching. His school principal and teachers who granted leave, Telangana State Chess Federation officials, AICF, organizers, academies, fellow players, sponsors, friends and extended family all played their part. Every bit of support helped Dhruva reach this milestone!