Shyaamnikhil, originally from Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu, fulfilled a long-standing aspiration by becoming India’s 85th Grandmaster. This achievement came after he completed his third and final GM norm during the recently concluded Dubai Police Masters chess tournament. It marked the end of a 12-year journey since he initially attained the required 2500 ELO rating in 2012, having already secured two Grandmaster norms. Despite being recognized as one of the finest talents of his time, the road to this milestone was far from easy for Shyaamnikhil. Nonetheless, his dedication to the sport, which he embraced at the age of eight, eventually paid off, cementing his place among India’s chess elite.