One name that has been making waves lately is Karthikeyan Murali, a young Indian chess grandmaster who is rapidly rising in the ranks. If you follow chess even a little, you might have heard his name. But who exactly is Karthikeyan Murali, and why is he considered one of India’s brightest talents in chess? Let’s take a look.
Who Is Karthikeyan Murali?
Karthikeyan Murali was born on January 5, 1999, in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India. He started playing chess when he was just five years old. By the time he turned 10, Karthikeyan was already competing professionally. His talent became clear as he won the World Youth Chess Championship under-12 category in 2011, held in Brazil. But this was just the beginning.
Two years later, in 2013, Murali went on to win the World Youth Chess Championship under-16 title. His rise was impressive because he was competing and winning at the international level while still being a teenager.
He earned the prestigious Grandmaster title in 2015, becoming one of the youngest Indian grandmasters at that time.
A Career Full Of Milestones
Karthikeyan Murali’s journey is full of remarkable achievements. He won the Indian National Premier Chess Championship twice, in 2015 and 2016. One of his most notable performances internationally was in 2019 when he finished second in the Gibraltar Masters.
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Another exciting moment in Karthikeyan’s career came from his game against Alireza Firouzja in the Asian Championship 2019. He performed a bold queen sacrifice, a very rare and risky move, that even the best Grandmasters hesitate to make. This game is still talked about as one of the greatest queen sacrifices in recent memory.
Defeating Magnus Carlsen
In 2023, Karthikeyan Murali achieved another milestone by becoming only the third Indian to defeat Magnus Carlsen, the GOAT of chess. This victory made headlines and proved that Karthikeyan is a serious contender on the world stage.
Beyond his skills on the chessboard, Karthikeyan Murali is also known for his hard work and humility. He balances his chess career with academics and personal interests, including cricket, cycling, and yoga.
Also read: Who Is Divya Deshmukh? The Indian Teenage Chess Prodigy
