Laxman Becomes Grandmaster

By Arvind Aaron

Chennai's Rajaram Laxman became India's latest grandmaster when he completed the third and final Grand Master result at the Kolkata Open on September 9, 2009.

"I am relieved now," Laxman said speaking on the phone from Kolkata. The Grand Master title is now completed and I will be looking at bigger things to achieve in chess very soon.

He made his first GM Norm at Dubai in 2008 February and the second Grand Master norm at Gurgaon earlier this year. Having a 2500 rating for more than a year, Laxman does not need to wait for the rating now.

The big made positional player who is a second child to parents who are both medical doctor resides at Kotturpuram in Chennai. He does tennis, walking in the Besant Theosophical Society for remaining fit. His other interests are astrology. He is a bachelor.

Laxman works for Integral Coach Factory in Chennai. And is presently the strongest player in the railway group. Indian railways, the world's largest employer, also employs most FIDE rated players of India.

Laxman always had the potential to become a grandmaster in the last two years. His becoming a grandmaster makes him the fourth Grand Master from Chennai after Viswanathan Anand, Krishnan Sasikiran and R.B. Ramesh.

Laxman had played and won many FIDE Rated events in 2007 and is the current National Under-25 champion.

The next achievement for Laxman will depend on what is in his mind and how well he goes about achieving them. The sky is the limit for him.

Home                                                                                                                         Published on  10^th September, 2009