From MBA Aspirant to Chess Grandmaster: Raahul VS's Remarkable Journey
In a stunning achievement that has captivated the chess world, Raahul VS has become India's 91st chess grandmaster in the most extraordinary fashion. The 24-year-old part-time coach and MBA aspirant secured his grandmaster title by winning the ASEAN Individual Championship in the Philippines on Friday, November 8, 2025, accomplishing what most chess players can only dream of - earning the prestigious title in one shot without accumulating the traditional three norms.
The Championship Victory That Changed Everything
While the global chess community was focused on the FIDE World Cup in India, Raahul VS was quietly making history thousands of miles away. His victory at the ASEAN Individual Championship came with a round to spare, demonstrating his dominance throughout the tournament. This achievement places him in an exclusive club of Indian chess players who have bypassed the conventional norm accumulation process, following in the footsteps of Divya Deshmukh, who achieved a similar feat earlier this year by winning the Women's World Cup title.
The timing of his victory left little room for celebration. Raahul had to play his final tournament game at 9 am local time on Saturday before rushing to catch a 2:30 pm flight to Malaysia to participate in the Commonwealth Chess tournament, showcasing the demanding schedule of a professional chess player.
The Mentor Behind the Success
Raahul's success story is closely tied to his mentor, Shyamsundar Mohanraj, a renowned chess coach from Chennai who has been instrumental in producing several of India's recent grandmasters. Under Shyamsundar's guidance at Chess Thulir, Raahul joined the ranks of other successful players from the same training stable, including AR Ilamparthi (India's 90th GM), Harikrishnan A Ra (India's 87th GM), and Srihari LR (India's 86th GM).
"I have known Raahul since he was a kid, because he is also from Chennai," Shyamsundar shared with The Indian Express. "Even three or four years back, he used to ask for some advice about chess. Then finally a few months back he came to my camp where there were many IMs and GMs training. When he met all these GMs, and played many games with these players, he was calculating at par with them. He was as strong as them. That realization also probably gave him an extra boost and some confidence."
Overcoming Challenges and Refining Skills
According to his mentor, Raahul's journey to grandmaster status wasn't without its challenges. The young chess prodigy had developed a habit of making game-turning one-move blunders that threatened to undermine his otherwise brilliant play.
"He is very good at tactical chess. He's good at tactics. He is good at calculation also," Shyamsundar explained. "But, his major problem for all these years was, he would make silly one-move blunders. I told him a few times that this is happening very frequently. If you play well for four hours and then squander it away on one silly blunder that too a beginner's blunder that will always leave a negative impact."
The turning point came when Raahul began training with other grandmasters and international masters at Shyamsundar's camp. The experience of competing against and calculating at the same level as established grandmasters provided the confidence boost he needed. Over the past year, his dedication to chess intensified significantly, transforming him from a "playful and joyful" player to someone who is "fully focused" on his game.
Shyamsundar noted remarkable improvement in Raahul's concentration and error reduction in recent months. "Over the last few months, it has reduced quite a lot, drastically," he said about Raahul's tendency to make blunders.
Balancing Education and Elite Chess
What makes Raahul VS's achievement even more impressive is his ability to balance elite chess competition with academic pursuits. As an MBA aspirant from the SRM Institute of Science and Technology and a part-time chess coach, he represents a new generation of Indian chess players who are pursuing multiple passions simultaneously.
His recent work at Chess Thulir under Shyamsundar's guidance has not only honed his skills but also contributed to the growing ecosystem of chess excellence in Chennai, which is rapidly becoming a hub for producing world-class chess talent.
The Indian chess federation AICF has officially recognized Raahul as India's 91st grandmaster, cementing his place in the annals of Indian chess history. His achievement demonstrates that unconventional paths to grandmaster titles are possible through exceptional tournament victories, opening new possibilities for aspiring chess players across the country.
As India continues to make waves in the global chess arena, Raahul VS's story serves as an inspiration to countless young chess enthusiasts who dream of achieving greatness while balancing other aspects of their lives and education.
