M.S. Thejkumar became the first chess Grandmaster from Karnataka, achieving the distinction when he won his two rounds in the Fomento all-India FIDE-rated chess tournament in Goa on Wednesday. He is India’s 50th GM.
Thejkumar defeated Sanjeeb Parab (Goa) and Athalye Varad (Maharashtra) to cross the 2500-rating mark.
Speaking to The Hindu , the Grandmaster said he was “very happy” and wanted to “achieve further and work hard to become a Super Grandmaster.”
He said he was grateful to his father K.R. Shivarame Gowda, wife Jayashree, and the sponsors who have helped him
reach his goal.
An employee of South Western Railway (Mysuru), Thejkumar was part of the Indian Railway team which won gold in the World Railway championship. He is also the only Karnataka player to win the National-B crown.
