Is chess India’s new cricket? Game’s popularity sees rise of young prodigies who could ‘go all the way’

“I will never withdraw … Withdrawing is not the mark of sportsmanship and dampens my fighting spirit,” the teenager had adamantly responded that night.

Powering through intermittent hospital stays and a liquid diet for most of the 10-day tournament in November last year, Lakshminarasimhan’s perseverance proved to be a life-altering experience. The shy and frail-looking teenager came inches away from clinching the title of International Master (IM), and finally entered this elite circle in February.

In the world of chess, IM is just one step away from the highest status of Grandmaster (GM), and India, home to about 125 IMs and 84 GMs, has witnessed a remarkable surge in such titles. Back in 2007, there were only about 20 GMs in the country.

Lakshminarasimhan represents the young crop of aspirants in India dominating the chess arena in recent years. Chess, a two-player board game created in India about 1,500 years ago, has seen a rapid surge in popularity over the past two decades.

The number of tournaments has increased, the chess ecosystem is strengthening each year, and the country is attracting international events and talent. Players like Lakshminarasimhan are emerging as promising talent in this thriving chess landscape.

To achieve the title of IM, one must score 2,400 points in the ratings system monitored by the International Chess Federation (FIDE).

Lakshminarasimhan, hailing from a humble background, hovered around 2,350 points in January last year, but gradually dropped to 2,200 in October. In a remarkable comeback, he reached 2,400 in February, becoming the country’s first IM from the tiny union territory of Puducherry.

While Chennai boasts a vibrant chess ecosystem with coaching institutes, sophisticated trainers and