Harsha Bharathakoti targets ELO rating of 2750
Harsha Bharathakoti has become the second Grand Master from Telangana having attained the mandatory ELO rating of 2500 at the on-going Gujarat International Grandmasters Open chess tournament.
Published : Oct 08, 2018 22:31 IST
Harsha Bharathakoti has become the second Grand Master from Telangana having attained the mandatory ELO rating of 2500 during the on-going Gujarat International Grandmasters Open chess tournament on Monday, according to his coach N.V.S. Rama Raju.
Raju, who also trained GM Dronavalli Harika, informed Sportstar on Monday that though the 17-year-old Harsha got all the three GM norms including the third one in Abu Dhabi Masters since his ELO rating then was 2492 he had to wait for the title.
Now, Harsha will be now be officially conferred with the GM title having earned the eight points required after an impressive start to his campaign in the Gujarat Open winning the first four rounds including the one over Turkmenistan GM Farrukh Amonatov.
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For the record, Arjun Erigaisi was the first player from Telangana to get the coveted GM title.
A visibly delighted Harsha gives credit for his achievement to the coach and his parents even as he gently reminds that he was expecting to realise his goal in this tournament.
“It is a big day for me and I am really pleased with the achievement. Wish to carry on and on,” says the young champion.
“I give complete credit to my coach and parents for the way they have been supporting me,” the young champion informs Sportstar from Ahmedabad after getting the GM title.
“My next big target is to cross the coveted ELO 2750 and I am really working hard to improve my tactical skills even as I am pleased with my positional play which I feel is my strongpoint,” says the 11th standard student in Sai Chaitanya College (Dilsukhnagar) here.