From Engineering to International Master: The Incredible Journey of Nithin Babu

5 Year Break and A Comeback

After climbing rapidly from 1400 to 2000 Elo purely through self-study, YouTube, and online blitz, Nithin’s chess journey took an unexpected pause. Between 2018 and 2022, he prioritized academics to complete his B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering at GEC Thrissur, stepping away from the competitive circuit for nearly five years. It wasn't until after graduation in 2022 that he returned to the board, starting at the Raipur GM tournament and reigniting his path to the International Master title with unmatched determination.

Check out this amazing interview with Nithin

Sagar Shah: How did your chess journey begin, Nithin?
Nithin Babu: I was first introduced to chess by my grandfather at the age of 5. I knew some of the rules, but not all. In fact, I am pretty sure I didn't know about en passant till I was 12. I played a lot of chess games on my computer (not online, as I wasn't even aware of online chess sites). Outside of some school competitions, I played my first chess tournament in December 2012 when I was 12 years old. In my second tournament, I got second in the Kasaragod U-13 district championship in 2013 and got selected for the Kerala State U-13 championship.

Sagar Shah: Who were your initial trainers who helped you get better at chess?
Nithin Babu: I only had one coach in my entire career: Subrahmanian Namboodiri, a senior player from Kasaragod. He would come to my house once a week in 2013. I have never had a coach since our classes stopped around early 2014. In 2014, I would sometimes go to an academy named Vishy Chess School to play countless blitz games with strong players like Manoj MV and Jayakrishnan P.

Sagar Shah: What were your early achievements as a player?
Nithin Babu: I finished second in the Kerala State U-15 tournament in 2014. I won the Kasaragod District Senior Championship in 2015, and I won the Kerala State U-17 title in 2016.

Sagar Shah: How did you improve from 1400 to 2000 Elo? You managed to do this in roughly 4 years (2013 to 2017).
Nithin Babu: I stopped taking coaching in early 2014. I mostly just played countless blitz games online and watched YouTube videos. I only played tournaments in Kerala during 2013–2017 (barring two nationals).

Sagar Shah: Then came something very surprising - you took a break of nearly 5 years where you didn't play chess! What happened?

Nithin Babu: I was doing my B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering at Government Engineering College, Thrissur from 2018 to 2022. Even before that, I rarely cut classes to play chess tournaments; almost all of my tournaments were during vacations. I started playing chess seriously only after my B.Tech. I played my first GM tournament in Raipur in 2022.

Sagar Shah: Where did you achieve your IM norms and how were those tournaments for you?

1st Norm

My first IM norm came in the Meghalaya GM tournament in December 2023. I didn't really know the requirements to make a norm then; I just had some vague idea of what a norm was and that you need to face players with high ratings. Since my first three opponents were rated around 1600–1700, I didn't think it was even possible to score a norm there. After my 9th-round game, IM Ratnakaran Sir told me to check with the arbiters about the norm. That's how I realized I had made my first norm.

Second Norm

My second norm came in the Bangalore GM in February 2024. The tournament ended horribly since I lost my last two games, but my score still proved enough for a norm.

Check out Nithin's games from the 1st Bangalore GM

Third Norm

My third norm came at the Bangalore GM 2025, which, results-wise, is my best tournament to date. While I managed to nearly lose a completely winning position in the last round, I had also survived a few losing positions earlier.

Check out Nithin's games from the 2nd Bangalore GM

4th Norm

My fourth norm came in the Kanizsa Open. I was more focused on crossing 2400 in live rating in this tournament. I managed to do that in the second round itself. While I made seven draws after that, I was either winning or losing in most of those games.

Sagar Shah: Who are the people who have helped in your overall journey of becoming an IM?
Nithin Babu: I would like to thank my family for their support. I would like to thank my friends outside the chess world who encouraged me to follow my passion. I also thank my friends within the chess world and would like to apologize for subjecting them to my rants every time I mess up a winning position (which is basically every other game).

Sagar Shah: What are the other things you do apart from chess - educationally, do you also coach?
Nithin Babu: I have also been coaching and doing playing sessions since 2023.

Sagar Shah: What is your advice to players out there, not so young, but trying to achieve their IM titles like you?
Nithin Babu: Something I struggled with a lot is the lingering thought that I have lost a lot of my best years. It is completely normal to have these thoughts. Be consistent and trust the process. Someday tournaments will start "clicking," and results will follow.

Sagar Shah: What is your aim in chess in the days to come?
Nithin Babu: Currently, I see myself as a player first and a coach a very distant second. I am aiming for the GM title and beyond.

Nithin Babu’s journey from a self-taught talent playing online blitz to an International Master proves that there is no single right path to chess mastery. Despite a five-year hiatus to pursue engineering, his return to the board has been nothing short of spectacular. As he sets his sights on the Grandmaster title, his story stands as an inspiring reminder to older players and returning competitors alike: it is never too late to trust the process. We wish Nithin the very best in his pursuit of the ultimate chess title!