Chess player VS Rathanvel denied Grandmaster title despite rating gains
The Coimbatore player's rating did not increase in the August list despite winning 11 games in Assam tournaments.
Chess player VS Rathanvel was reported to be India's 99th Grandmaster after crossing the 2500 rating mark at the Guwahati Smart City International Open in July, according to the Times of India.
However, the August rating list showed his rating had not improved, meaning he did not secure the title. Rathanvel, a 25-year-old from Coimbatore, had finished his norms by 2022 but required a FIDE standard rating of 2500 to become a Grandmaster.
During the July tournaments in Assam, Rathanvel won 11 games across the Ayodhana International and the Guwahati Smart City Open. He skipped several rounds and took zero-point byes, which kept his score low and resulted in him facing lower-rated opponents.
While his opponents had their ratings updated, Rathanvel's rating remained the same. He told the Times of India that he has no idea why this happened and has not received satisfactory responses from FIDE or the All India Chess Federation (AICF).
FIDE regulations state that a tournament can be disqualified if changes are made that benefit one or more players. Rathanvel said the public announcement of his title caused significant pressure, noting that it was difficult to focus while his mindset was not in a perfect state.
Rathanvel stated that a mentor helped him get back on the right track to chase the 2500 rating again.