Raahul VS has become India's 91st Grandmaster, achieving the title on Friday, November 7, 2025, after a stellar performance at the 6th ASEAN Individual Championship. The 21-year-old clinched the title with a round to spare, marking a significant milestone in his chess career and adding to India's growing prominence in the world of chess.

Raahul's journey to becoming a Grandmaster included earning the title of International Master (IM) in November 2021 after securing his fourth and fifth IM norms and surpassing the 2400 rating threshold. His recent triumph at the ASEAN Championship not only secured his final GM norm but also highlighted his consistent performance in international tournaments.

The All India Chess Federation (AICF) President, Nitin Narang, extended his congratulations to Raahul VS via a post on X, stating, "Heartiest congratulations to Raahul V S for clinching the ASEAN Individual Championship with a round to spare and, in the process, becoming the 91st Grandmaster of the nation! Wishing you many more milestones ahead and continued success in making Bharat proud".

Raahul's achievement comes shortly after Illamparthi AR from Chennai became India's 90th Grandmaster a week prior. Illamparthi secured his final norm at the Bijeljina Open 2025 in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Before Illamparthi, S Rohith Krishna had become India's 89th Grandmaster in August, achieving his final GM norm at the Almaty Masters Qonaev Cup in Kazakhstan, where he scored 6/9 and surpassed the 2500 Elo ratings mark. He also defeated International Master Artur Davtyan in the final round.

The Grandmaster title is the highest ranking a chess player can achieve, awarded by the International Chess Federation (FIDE). It sits atop a hierarchy of chess titles, including International Master (IM), FIDE Master (FM), and Candidate Master (CM). To earn the Grandmaster title, a player must achieve three GM norms over at least 27 games and reach a FIDE rating of 2500 or higher. Each norm requires exceptional tournament performance, typically a rating of 2600 or higher, against strong international competitors.

Raahul's accomplishment underscores India's growing strength in chess, with an increasing number of young talents making their mark on the international stage. Of India's 91 Grandmasters, 35 are from Tamil Nadu, solidifying the state's position as a chess powerhouse in the country.