In October 2021, India’s young GM P. Iniyan emerged victorious at the 5th Rujna Zora chess match held in Serbia. In the classical competition consisting of 12 players and 11 rounds, Iniyan grabbed 7 golden points in 9 rounds, thus clinching the title.
Iniyan’s victory came against the host country’s GM Damljanovic Branko, GM from Bosnia, Dizdarevic Emir and his compatriot Sankalp Gupta.
Following a recent victory in Spain, the Serbian crown has enabled him to gain in his Elo points. His present FIDE rating is 2556.
Iniyan is also the first Indian chess player to win the annual WorldOpen chess tournament last year.
P.Iniyan: A story of grit and determination
Dating back to 2016, the teenage chess enthusiast had travelled to Europe with the expectation of receiving his IM norms. His goal was to mark the new year with three matches. Though the young player set out with determination, it was a chain of disasters that seemed to wait for him on the way.
Much to his disappointment, Iniyan’s first attempt lacked grit and was underrated. Soon his laptop got stolen while he was waiting at the bus stop. Unable to figure out his next move, Iniyan’s first instinct was to quit. But soon, the persevering chess player in him refused to give up and decided to face the adversities upfront. Iniyan decided that he hasn’t come this far to turn back.
Like in many of the sweet-success stories, sunshine was waiting for him at the end of the tunnel. Iniyan went on to earn two IM norms in the following tournaments. As he puts it, he had a routine of a minimum of ten hours of practice, at times extending to four or five hours more.
Nothing has stopped this boy from Tamil Nadu from pursuing his dreams and today he stands tall and is a name to reckon in Indian chess. Iniyan comes from a family that loves sports. His father, a cricket player, encouraged his son to take up some kind of sport. The boy grew up actively engaged in sports throughout his younger days. He played cricket, badminton, and chess at home.
Initial Training in Chess
It was his father who turned his attention to chess. He believed that an individual sport is better since one’s success solely depends on one’s own hard work and efforts. His father became his first mentor as he taught the young Iniyan the rules of the game.
Iniyan’s first professional coach was Thirumurugan from Erode, Tamil Nadu, from whom he learned the basics of the game. He then got trained under Coach Senthilvel until he reached the Under-9 level. Coach Visweswaran also played a significant role in the young GM’s career and continues to constantly support the player.
The young boy who rose to one of the top seeds in India is a star today. Iniyan has earned his credentials through hard work, dedication, and a positive outlook - essential traits of a successful chess master.
During the pandemic, the young chess star had notched up a few first-rate performances. Iniyan became the first Indian to emerge as the winner in the annual World Open Chess Tournament in 2020, followed by a silver at the 1st FIDE World University online blitz chess in March 2021. He also won AICF World Cup qualifiers recently and gained a spot in the elite World Cup 2021.
Drawing inspiration from World Chess Masters
Iniyan derives inspiration from Chess legends like Garry Kasparov, Magnus Carlsen, Levon Aronian, and his contemporary and another young GM Fabiano Caruana. His true motivation is none other than the Indian GM Viswanathan Anand, a five-time World champion and a living legend for all Indian chess lovers.
Iniyan believes that one can become a grandmaster through consistent hard work and focused efforts. Till date, his favourite game was at the Noisiel Open by defeating GM Sergey Fedorchuk where he crossed the ELO rating of 2500. The title-win earned him the GM rank.
The young lad also has a strong streak of compassion and concern for society. During the pandemic in 2020, Iniyan organized a fundraiser to help the victims of Covid-19. The young grandmaster said that he wants his success to inspire and be beneficial to other youngsters as well, providing the right stimulus for those who want to rise up in chess.
Wrapping Up
At Mind Mentorz, we are committed to raising young masters not by mere skills but by instilling in them the right attitude to win through life’s trials. We teach them to face failures and rise above them, much like P,Iniyan. Our meticulous chess coaching helps your kid develop the much-needed cognitive skills along with impeccable game strategies.
To know more about our coaching style and curriculum, visit us at http://www.mindmentorz.com or call +91 9606847428