Visakhapatnam's Sahithi Varshini becomes Woman Grandmaster

The brief

Context

Sahithi Varshini, a chess player from Visakhapatnam, has completed the requirements for the Woman Grandmaster (WGM) title by earning her third and final WGM norm at a recently concluded international tournament in Europe. FIDE titles such as WIM, WGM, IM and GM require players to earn a set number of "norms" (performance benchmarks) in eligible international events along with a minimum rating. Sahithi, coached by her father M. Lokeswara Rao, was earlier the first woman chess player from Visakhapatnam to earn the Woman International Master (WIM) title, and now aims for the open Grandmaster title.

Key facts

• Sahithi Varshini earned her third and final WGM norm at a recently concluded international tournament in Europe, completing all requirements for the Woman Grandmaster title (report updated 15 September 2026).
• In that tournament she finished runner-up with six points from nine rounds and a performance rating of 2408.
• Her wins in the event included victories over IM Neelash Saha and Vedant Panesar.
• Her live classical rating has reached 2324.
• At the Kanizsa Open 2026 in Hungary she scored 5 points in 9 rounds with a 2429 performance rating to secure her second WGM norm.
• At Kanizsa she beat GM Yeshaayahu Tzidkiya (rated 2492) and IM Sahib Singh (rated 2354).
• At the Juraflore International Chess Tournament in France she was named Best Woman Player, competing against four IMs and one GM.
• Her junior record includes Asian Under-10 and Under-12 titles and a Commonwealth Under-10 gold medal; she has represented India at the Chess Olympiad.

Timeline

1. Earlier years (age not stated in the source)Wins Asian Under-10 and Under-12 titles and Commonwealth Under-10 gold; represents India at the Chess Olympiad.
2. Before the WGM normsEarns the Woman International Master (WIM) title; recognised as the first woman player from Visakhapatnam to do so.
3. Recent monthsNamed Best Woman Player at the Juraflore International Chess Tournament in France.
4. Kanizsa Open 2026, HungaryScores 5/9 with a 2429 performance rating and secures her second WGM norm.
5. Recently concluded European tournamentFinishes runner-up with 6/9 and a 2408 performance rating, earning the third and final WGM norm.
6. 15 September 2026Report updated confirming she has completed WGM requirements and is aiming for the GM title.

Who has a stake

• Sahithi Varshini — Completes the WGM title requirements; next target is the Grandmaster title and a higher classical rating.
• M. Lokeswara Rao (father and coach) — Has trained and guided her from a young age; calls the WGM title a milestone and a new beginning.
• Visakhapatnam chess community — Gains a home-grown WGM after she became the city's first woman WIM, boosting local chess aspirations.
• Indian chess ecosystem / national team — Adds to India's growing pool of titled women players; she has already represented India at the Chess Olympiad.
• International opponents named (GM Yeshaayahu Tzidkiya, IM Sahib Singh, IM Neelash Saha, Vedant Panesar) — Higher-rated or titled players she defeated en route to her norms.

Why it matters

Titles like WGM are earned only through repeated performances against strong, higher-rated international fields, so Sahithi's three norms mark a verified jump in playing strength rather than a one-off result. Her rise, coached entirely by her father, shows how India's chess depth is now spreading beyond traditional hubs to cities like Visakhapatnam. Her stated aim of the open Grandmaster title reflects a wider trend of Indian women players chasing titles without the "woman" prefix.