My aim was to not finish last, never thought I'll win: GM Aravindh

When Aravindh Chithambaram started his campaign at the 2024 Chennai Grandmasters, few, if any, saw him as the favorite.

The spotlight was on the big names, especially on World No.4 and the man in form Arjun Erigaisi, who had incidentally finished runner up in the 2023 Chennai Grandmasters as well.

And yet, on home turf, he went on to script a tale that caught the chess world by surprise.

'Never thought I will win'

"Honestly, coming into the tournament, my aim was not (to) finish in the bottom. I never thought I will win," said Aravindh, in an exclusive telephonic conversation with The Bridge.

"Even after winning my final game, I did not think I will win, because heading into the tie-breaker, Aronian and Arjun were still the favorites," he added talking of his triumph.

In the three-way tie that ensued between Aravindh, Levon Aronian and Arjun Erigaisi, the stalwarts fell by the wayside and Aravindh won the tie-breaker Blitz against the American to clinch the title.

Aravindh likes to keep things simple and consistent.

He has been in the international chess circuit for nearly a decade, and with a 2700 FIDE rating, he knows how to go about his business.

"I was trying to be solid in most of the games like not (taking) too risk much. I mean I did not think too much about the results and I think that is quite important," he said.

Crowdfunding to the rescue

It was not all easy going for young Aravindh.

After losing his father at a very young age, he was raised by his mother, who supported him earnestly in his pursuance of chess.

But participating in international tournaments became an issue for Aravindh owing high expenses, something that his mother was unable to cater to.

That is where crowdfunding came to his rescue.

Thanks to his coach, GM Ramesh, Aravindh was able to raise enough money through crowdfunding, which enabled him to participate in international tournaments and fulfil the criteria to secure the Grandmaster norm, which he achieved in December, 2014.

GM Aravindh Chithambaram getting the Masters shield by TN Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin. (Photo Credit: CGM)

"My coach, Ramesh sir, during that time asked a few people to sponsor me to play tournaments in Europe. People from across the country came forward to help me, without even knowing me. I was able to fulfil the norms to become Grandmaster. I am extremely grateful to these people and even though I don't know their names, they contributed to my success," he said, in a tone that conveyed nothing but gratitude.

Now though, Aravindh has sponsors that support him.

"After my European tournaments when I became International Master (IM), I got scholarships from ONGC. But my main sponsor has been the Murugappa Group. They have been sponsoring me since I became IM. I haven't like advertised or like said it in many interviews but I am grateful for their support," he said.

Sponsors aside, there is one person who has been the biggest pillar of strength from Aravindh, his mother.

"She has been my backbone. I don't want to thank her since it would be too formal," he said with a smile.

GM Ramesh, Aravindh's guiding light

Born and raised in the southern TN city of Madurai, Aravindh moved to Chennai in order to pursue chess under the guidance of a Grandmaster coach.

And that was how he met GM Ramesh, who has been coaching him ever since.

"My first coach was Prasad. He taught me very good basics. After that I was coached by Ghouse Kamardeen with whom I won a few national tournaments. I then wanted to be work with grandmaster coaches, and that's how I found Ramesh sir," he said.

"Since Ramesh sir lived in Chennai, I shifted from Madurai to Chennai and moved to Velammal. Since then I've been working with Ramesh sir," he added.

Ramesh arranged for the crowdfunding sources which enabled Aravindh to fly abroad and fulfil the criteria to become Grandmaster.

Aravindh with his coach GM Ramesh. (Photo Credit: X)

In more ways than one, Ramesh has been Aravindh's guiding light, and Aravindh has rewarded his coach's faith by delivering the goods on the chess circuit.

Aravindh’s journey, from being an underdog to claiming the title on his home turf, is akin to a fairy tale.

In the world of chess, where the next move can change everything, Aravindh's victory is a reminder that sometimes the most unexpected moves lead to the greatest of victories.