Telugu youngster Ajay Santhosh earns International Master Chess title at 15

Telugu youngster Ajay Santhosh, 15, achieved the International Master chess title, crediting mentors, family, and determination. With dreams of becoming a Grandmaster, he now seeks support to compete internationally

Hyderabad: Ajay Santhosh took a major step toward his dream of achieving bigger feats in chess when he recently earned the International Master (IM) title. For the Telugu boy whose parents moved to Noida in search of better opportunities, this milestone is the result of years of dedication, sacrifice, and support from coaches and family alike.

Santhosh was first introduced to chess at home by his father, and what began as a fun challenge soon grew into a serious pursuit. To build on his budding interest, he joined the Mind Games Chess Academy, where Vivek Mitra and Krish nurtured his early passion for the game. Their encouragement inspired him to take chess seriously and showcase his natural talent.

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Interestingly, it was during the pandemic lockdown that his progress accelerated — thanks to JK Raju, he broke through the 2000 Elo barrier, sharpening his calculation speed and confidence in the process. Further mentoring from Onkar Jadhav and GM Shyam Sundar helped him polish his skills, and consistent performances soon propelled him past the 2300 Elo mark. Today, Santhosh trains under Lokesh, father of prodigy FM Sahithi Varshini, whose guidance played a key role in his IM title achievement.

At just 15 years old, Santhosh has come a long way from the day he first picked up chess to “beat his father.” Now, he stands as a potential champion with the ultimate ambition of breaking into the world’s top 10 players.

“My strengths are sharp calculation, a flexible style of play, quick decision-making, and mental toughness,” says Santhosh. “Being mentored by Lokesh has been a huge morale booster. Achieving the IM title and touching the 2500 live Elo mark has given me great confidence.”

His current focus is on widening his opening repertoire, sharpening middle-game strategies, and mastering the endgame — all vital steps toward the next big goal of becoming a Grandmaster.

Like many talented youngsters from middle-class families, Santhosh faces the challenge of financial support to compete in international tournaments. Yet, his optimism remains undimmed: “If I can make it big, I hope sponsors will come forward to support my dream of representing India at the Chess Olympiad, World Cup, and Asian events.”

For Santhosh, his parents are the biggest inspiration, their sacrifices laying the foundation for his journey. His idols include Viswanathan Anand, the legend who put Indian chess on the global map, and current world champion D Gukesh.

From his family’s roots in the small village of Spirala, Chinnaganjam mandal (Bapatla district), to his father Venkata Mayur Babu — an IIT Roorkee postgraduate and Structural Engineer in Noida — the journey has already been remarkable. And for Ajay Santhosh, it promises to get even more fascinating in the years to come.