Andhra Pradesh’s M Venkata Ruthvik becomes FIDE Master

Hyderabad: Young chess talent M.Venkata Ruthvik of Andhra Pradesh has achieved the prestigious FIDE Master (FM) title, marking an important milestone in his chess career.

Ruthvik, whose first coach was B. Ramana Babu, has consistently demonstrated his talent through impressive performances in State, National, and International tournaments, winning several State Open and age-group championships and represented Andhra Pradesh in numerous National Championships, securing multiple top-five and top-ten finishes.

One of his notable achievements came in January 2024, when he emerged champion of the second Sri Chess International Open FIDE Rated Championship in Visakhapatnam, featuring 464 players from India and five other countries.

His performance at the prestigious KIIT International Grandmasters Tournament in 2022 was another major breakthrough, where he gained an impressive 189 FIDE rating points in a single tournament.

Ruthvik has also made a strong impression on the international chess circuit with his recent performances in Hungary.

In the First Saturday IM-A tournament in Budapest, he remained unbeaten and secured impressive draws against International Masters Rafat Issa and Attila Turzo, as well as Grandmasters Lajos Seres and David Berczes. He finished first with 5.5 points out of 9, gaining approximately 69 FIDE rating points.

Ruthwik, whose parents, Mummana Rajesh and Chandra Kala, have been constant pillars of support throughout his journey, has the ability to hold his ground against experienced IMs and GMs, reflecting his growing maturity and competitive strength.

“One of Ruthvik’s greatest strengths is his deep positional understanding, strategic patience and ability to find solutions in complex positions. These qualities, combined with his consistent progress, make him a promising talent for the future,” says his coach-cum-mentor M Lokeshwara Rao, founder of Vagdevi Chess Academy in Visakhapatnam.

For the past year, Ruthvik has been receiving advanced training under renowned chess coach M. Lokeswara Rao, Founder of Vagdevi Chess Academy. His initial chess foundation was laid by local coach B. Ramana Babu.

With the FIDE Master title now added to his achievements, Ruthvik is setting his sights on greater international challenges and higher chess goals. His journey reflects the importance of talent, perseverance, disciplined training, and unwavering family support.