Who has become India's 70th Grand Master in Chess ?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is (3):
Raja Ritwik, a talented teenager from Telangana, achieved the distinction of becoming India's 70th Grand Master in Chess. This prestigious title, which is the highest awarded by the Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE), requires a player to earn three Grandmaster norms and cross the crucial 2500 Elo rating mark. Raja Ritwik fulfilled all these requirements in September 2021, at the Vezerkepzo Grandmaster Tournament in Budapest, Hungary. This achievement marked a significant milestone for him at the age of 17 and showcased the continuous rise of young talent in Indian chess, making him the officially recognized 70th Grandmaster of the country.

The incorrect option is (1):
Tania Sachdev is a very well-known and accomplished figure in Indian chess, but she does not hold the general Grandmaster (GM) title. She is an International Master (IM) and a Woman Grandmaster (WGM). The Woman Grandmaster (WGM) title is a separate, gender-specific title with lower requirements than the universal GM title, which is open to all genders. Tania Sachdev earned her WGM title in 2005. While she is a prominent chess personality and a commentator, she was neither the 70th GM nor has she secured the universal GM title.

The incorrect option is (2):
Padmini Raut is another formidable female player in the Indian chess circuit and is one of the leading names in women's chess in the country. Padmini Raut holds the title of Woman Grandmaster (WGM), a significant achievement that she earned in 2010. She is also a four-time National Women's Premier Champion. However, similar to the reasoning for Option 1, the WGM title is distinct from the universal Grandmaster (GM) title. The universal GM title is the one the question refers to, which requires higher standards, and Padmini Raut has not achieved that rank.

The incorrect option is (4):
Suryashekhar Ganguly is a highly successful and decorated Indian chess player who is a Grandmaster. However, he achieved his GM title significantly earlier in the timeline of Indian chess history. Ganguly earned the universal Grandmaster title in 2003. This achievement made him India's 17th Grandmaster, placing him far before the chronological position of the 70th Grandmaster. He is a six-time Indian National Chess Champion, but his GM status was conferred nearly two decades before the 70th GM was crowned.