AP teenager Sahithi Varshini secures final Woman Grandmaster norm in Serbia meet

Andhra Pradesh’s young chess player Sahithi Varshini Moogi secured her third and final Woman Grandmaster (WGM) norm at the IM VII Round-Robin Chess Tournament in Serbia, thereby fulfilling all the criteria for the WGM title.

Sahithi, who hails from Visakhapatnam, fulfilled all the requirements for the Woman Grandmaster title at the age of just 19 and her achievements are another milestone for Andhra Pradesh chess. Sahiti follows the footsteps of her illustrious predecessors like Koneru Humpy, Dronavalli Harika and Bodda Pratyusha.

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Born in 1987, the Vijayawada-based Humpy is a chess legend and former World Rapid Champion (2019). She became the youngest woman in the world to become a FIDE Grandmaster (GM) at the time and has long been one of the top female players globally.

Harika, born in Guntur in 1991, holds the prestigious full FIDE Grandmaster title (achieved in 2011) and is a multiple-time bronze medalist at the Women’s World Chess Championships.

Pratyusha, who hails from Tuni in East Godavari district was born in 1997. She earned her Woman Grandmaster (WGM) title in 2020, becoming a prominent Telugu name in women’s international chess circuits.

SAAP chairman hails Sahithi

Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAAP) chairman Ravi Naidu congratulated Sahithi Varshini on her remarkable achievement and for showcasing Andhra Pradesh’s talent on the international chess stage.

Speaking on the occasion, Ravi Naidu said that completing the three required WGM norms at the age of just 19 is a testament to Sahithi Varshini’s talent, perseverance, and dedication. He stated that her achievement serves as an inspiration to young chess players across the country, as well as in Andhra Pradesh.

Sahithi Varshini secured second place by scoring 6 out of a possible 9 points in the tournament held in Serbia, while also attaining a performance rating of 2408 and gaining 23 rating points. “She is a source of pride for the state, having showcased its sporting talent to the world through her outstanding performance at the international level,” said Ravi Naidu.

He also stated that the successes of athletes like Sahithi Varshini serve as further inspiration for the efforts being made by the state government and SAAP to encourage young talent. He expressed hope that she would achieve even greater success in the future and bring further acclaim to both the country and Andhra Pradesh.

Ravi Naidu expressed hope that Sahithi Varshini’s success would provide a boost to the sport of chess in the state and inspire more young players to excel at the international level.